Clinical application of a three-dimensional-printed model in the treatment of intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors: a pilot study.

Background: Surgical management for intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors is difficult due to the complex anatomical structures. Therefore, assisting methods are urgently needed. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the utility of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed model in the treatment of intracranial and extracranial communicating tumors as well as its applicability in surgical planning and resident education.

Predicting glioblastoma molecular subtypes and prognosis with a multimodal model integrating convolutional neural network, radiomics, and semantics.

Objective: The aim of this study was to build a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based prediction model of glioblastoma (GBM) molecular subtype diagnosis and prognosis with multimodal features.

Methods: In total, 222 GBM patients were included in the training set from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and 107 GBM patients were included in the validation set from SYSUCC, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, and the First Hospital of Jilin University. The multimodal model was trained with MR images (pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted images and T2-weighted images), corresponding MRI impression, and clinical patient information.

Longest survival with primary intracranial malignant melanoma: A case report and literature review.

Background: Primary intracranial malignant melanoma (PIMM) is rare, and its prognosis is very poor. It is not clear what systematic treatment strategy can achieve long-term survival. This case study attempted to identify the optimal strategy for long-term survival outcomes by reviewing the PIMM patient with the longest survival following comprehensive treatment and by reviewing the related literature.

The application of fluorescein sodium for the resection of medulloblastoma.

Introduction: Surgical resection of medulloblastoma (MB) remains a challenge. At present, a variety of tracers have been used for intraoperative tumor visualization. However, there are few reports on the intraoperative visualization of MB.

The utility of 3-dimensional-printed models for skull base meningioma surgery.

Background: Skull base meningioma surgery is often difficult and complicated to perform. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of 3-dimensional (3D)-printed models of skull base meningioma in the representation of anatomical structures, the simulation of surgical plans, and patient education on surgical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study of 35 patients (3D group: 19 patients and non-3D group: 16 patients) with skull base meningioma was conducted.

Assessment of ctDNA in CSF may be a more rapid means of assessing surgical outcomes than plasma ctDNA in glioblastoma.

We aimed to develop a high-throughput deep DNA sequencing assay of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to identify clinically relevant oncogenic mutations that contribute to the development of glioblastoma (GBM) and serve as biomarkers to predict patients' responses to surgery. For this purpose, we recruited five patients diagnosed with highly suspicious GBM according to preoperative magnet resonance imaging. Subsequently, patients were histologically diagnosed with GBM.

Fluorescein sodium-guided biopsy or resection in primary central nervous system lymphomas with contrast-enhancing lesion in MRI.

Background: Surgical procedures are critical in making a conclusive histopathological diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), which typically presents contrast-enhancing lesions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The fluorescein sodium-guided technique could enhance tumor visibility. We reported a series of patients with PCNSL underwent fluorescein sodium-guided surgical procedures.

Evaluation of cumulative prognostic score based on pretreatment plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin levels in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.

This retrospective study was designed to determine the prognostic value of a cumulative score (FA score) based on pretreatment plasma fibrinogen and serum albumin levels for 326 patients newly diagnosed high-grade glioma (HGG). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off values. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate the independent prognostic value of the FA scores associated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of skull: a retrospective study of 18 cases.

Background: The present study presents 18 cases of Chinese patients harboring a Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the skull.

Methods: Eighteen consecutive patients were diagnosed as LCH of the skull and confirmed pathologically between March 2002 and February 2014. In the present study, the patients of LCH without skull involvement were excluded.

Transforaminal Resection of Cervical Dumbbell Schwannomas in Patients with Additional Tumors.

Background: It is rare for 2 primary tumors to occur simultaneously in a patient. Management of cervical dumbbell schwannomas (CDSs) with concurrent tumors (CTs) requires a specific neurosurgical strategy. The primary objective of this study is to investigate surgical strategies for CDSs with CTs while preserving as much of the mechanically relevant bone structures as possible.

Epidural Cystic Spinal Meningioma: A Case Report.

Cystic spinal meningioma (CSM) is an uncommon meningioma variant. Extradural CSMs are particularly rare and difficult to distinguish from other intraaxial tumors. This study presents a case of a 36-year-old woman with intraspinal extradual CSM at the thoracolumbar spine.

Safety evaluation of high-dose BCNU-loaded biodegradable implants in Chinese patients with recurrent malignant gliomas.

Objectives: Malignant gliomas are common primary brain tumors with dismal prognosis. The blood-brain barrier and unacceptable systemic toxicity limit the employment of chemotherapeutic agents. BCNU-impregnated biodegradable polymers (Gliadel®) have been demonstrated to prolong the survival of patients with malignant gliomas.

Neurosurgical interventions for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a single institution experience.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a frequent head and neck cancer in southern China and Southeast Asia. The majority of NPC patients are managed by radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and head and neck surgeons. Actually, neurosurgical interventions are warranted under specific circumstances.

Clinical significance of B7-H4 expression in matched non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases and primary tumors.

Background: B7-H4, a member of the inhibitory B7 family, is shown to have a profound inhibitory effect on the proliferation, activation, cytokine secretion, and development of cytotoxicity of T cells and may be involved in immune evasion in cancer patients. Although B7-H4 expression has been detected in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there are no published reports on the expression of B7-H4 in brain metastases from NSCLC.

Methods: We examined the expression of B7-H4 by immunohistochemistry in 49 cases of brain metastatic NSCLC, 18 cases of matched primary NSCLC, and 20 cases of NSCLC patients who had neither brain metastases nor other distant metastases.

[Survival of newly diagnosed malignant glioma patients on combined modality therapy].

Objective: To explore the survival of newly diagnosed malignant gliomas patients on combined modality therapy of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Methods: The data of 122 newly diagnosed malignant glioma patients on combined modality therapy at our center between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. The median age was 40 years old (range: 5 - 75) and median Karnofsky performance status score (KPS) 80 (range: 60 - 100).

Brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical features and prognostic factors.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are extremely rare and are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to define clinical outcome and prognostic determinants in patients with BM from HCC.

Methods: Between January 1994 and December 2009, all patients with HCC and BM treated in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were retrospectively reviewed.

Surgical management of radiation-induced temporal lobe necrosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: report of 14 cases.

Background: Radiation-induced temporal lobe necrosis is a rare and serious late complication in irradiated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Treatment of radiation-induced temporal lobe necrosis with surgery has been seldom thoroughly investigated.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 patients with radiation-induced temporal lobe necrosis treated with surgical intervention.

Brain metastases from colorectal carcinoma: a description of 60 cases in a single Chinese cancer center.

The incidence of brain metastasis (BM) from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is increasing. The objectives of the present study were to explore the clinical characteristics and potential prognostic factors in CRC patients with BM. Between April 1991 and December 2010, all CRC patients treated in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were retrospectively reviewed and 60 patients were identified to have BM (36 males and 24 females).

[Correlation between TGF- β1 expression and Treg cell infiltration in glioma].

Aim: To investigate correlation between the expression of TGF-β1 and the amount of Treg cell in glioma, and evaluate their clinical values in predicting the prognosis of glioma.

Methods: Double immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the expression of TGF-β1, CD4 and Foxp3 in 135 specimens of human gliomas (WHO I 18, WHO II 45, WHO III 53, WHO IV 19) and 15 normal brain.

Results: OF the 135 specimans of glioma, 58 showed low TGF-β1 expression and 77 (57.