Minimally invasive lumbar discectomy in obese patients.

Objective: To assess patient outcomes and complication rates after minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy in an obese patient population.

Methods: A retrospective clinical review of 32 patients with a body mass index of 30 kg/m or greater undergoing lumbar minimally invasive discectomy was performed. The initial chart review was followed by phone interview if all information could not be obtained from chart review.

Genetic and expression profiles of cerebellar liponeurocytomas.

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma, a rare, newly identified CNS neoplasm of adults, is characterized by advanced neuronal/neurocytic and focal lipomatous differentiation, low proliferative potential and a favorable clinical prognosis. Despite the different age distribution and benign biological behavior, the cerebellar liponeurocytoma shares several features with the cerebellar medulloblastoma, which may include an origin from the periventricular matrix of the fourth ventricle or the external granular layer of the cerebellum. To establish the genetic profile of cerebellar liponeurocytomas, we have formed an international consortium and collected tumor samples from 20 patients.