Evolution of a refractory prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma into a pituitary carcinoma: report of a challenging case and literature review.

Background: Pituitary carcinomas (PCs), defined as distant metastases of pituitary neoplasms, are very rare malignancies. Because the clinical presentation of PCs is variable, early diagnosis and management remain challenging. PCs are always refractory to comprehensive treatments, and patients with PCs have extremely poor prognoses.

A comparative analysis of ESM-1 and vascular endothelial cell marker (CD34/CD105) expression on pituitary adenoma invasion.

Objective: Pituitary adenomas are benign neoplasms that display invasive behavior-a characteristic traditionally associated with malignancy-through an ill-defined mechanism. The role of angiogenesis-related molecules in this pathological condition remains perplexing. Our purpose is to assess the impact of endocan (endothelial cell specific molecule-1, ESM-1), CD34 and CD105 on pituitary adenoma invasion.

[Expressions of aquaporin-4, matrix metallo-proteinase-2 and matrix metallo-proteinase-14 in peritumor edematous zone of glioma and clinical implications].

Objective: To distinguish the expressions of matrix metallo-poteinase and aquaporin in peritumor edematous zone and normal brain tissue for different pathological levels of glioma and explore the relationship of glioma cell invasiveness and brain edema.

Methods: The immunohistochemical method of SP was employed to detect the expressions of aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), matrix metallo-proteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metallo-proteinase-14 (MMP-14) in glioma and normal brain tissue. Due to a rarity of glioma Grades I and II, grades I and II glioma were pooled into low malignancy group (LMG) and grades III and IV into high malignancy group (HMG).

[Therapeutic strategy for intrasellar cystic lesions].

Objective: To make a clear distinction of intrasellar cystic lesions: craniopharyngioma (CR), Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC), cystic pituitary adenoma (PA) and intrasellar arachnoid cyst (AC).

Methods: A total of 72 adult patients underwent transsphenoidal approach for the removal of intrasellar cystic lesions. The authors conducted a study to (1) investigate preoperative clinical, biochemical and radiographic features of patients with CR, RCC, PA and AC; (2) identify clinicopathological features of independently predicting recurrence in CR, PA and RCC in adults.

[Preservation of pituitary stalk in the microsurgery of giant pituitary adenoma and its significance].

Objective: To investigate and elucidate how to preserve the pituitary stalk in the microsurgery of giant pituitary adenoma (GPA) and its clinical significance.

Methods: 45 GPA patients, 23 males and 22 female; aged 40.8, including 12 cases of invasive pituitary adenoma (IPA) underwent craniotomy based on the respective preoperative neuroradiological imaging characteristics.

[Anatomic research of the subtemporal transpetrosalridge approach].

Objective: Subtemporal transpetrosal ridge approach (STA) was introduced to remove the petroclival meningiomas with the simple, safe and minimal invasive character. It is suggested to replace the combined approach to reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Surgical anatomic study was done on 10 adult cadaver heads fixed in 10% formalin and 10 dry skulls.

[The diagnosis and microsurgical treatment of solid cerebellar hemangioreticuloma].

Objective: To study the clinical features, neuroimaging presentations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and operative warning events of the solid cerebellar hemangioblastoma.

Methods: The clinical data of 48 patients with solid cerebellar haemangioreticuloma were retrospectively analysed. Preoperative examinations included CT and MRI in all patients, DSA in 20, preoperative embolization of feeding arteries of tumor in 16, a preoperative ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed in 5 cases.

[Microsurgical treatment of cranial-cervical type giant ependymoma within the fourth ventricle in adult patients].

Objective: To study the neuroimaging characteristics, microsurgical treatment and prognosis of cranial-cervical type giant ependymoma within the fourth ventricle in adult patients.

Methods: The clinical data of 22 patients with cranial-cervical type giant ependymoma within the fourth ventricle were retrospectively analyzed. The suboccipital and C(1-3) posterior midline approach were performed in all patients.