Proteomic profiling of cerebrospinal fluid reveals TKT as a potential biomarker for medulloblastoma.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays an important role in brain tumors, including medulloblastoma (MBL). Recent advancements in mass spectrometry systems and 'Omics' data analysis methods enable unbiased, high proteome depth research. We conducted proteomic profiling of the total CSF in MBL patients with the purpose of finding a potential diagnostic biomarker for MBL.

Significance and Priority of Surgical Resection as Therapeutic Strategy Based on Clinical Characteristics of Brain Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To clarify a rational surgical priority, clinical characteristics were compared between brain metastases (BM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and other cancers.

Methods: We reviewed 425 consecutive patients with BM who underwent treatments including surgery between January 2014 and December 2022. Primary cancers included lung (n = 220), breast (n = 46), digestive (n = 65), RCC (n = 25), and others (n = 69).

Prediction of intraoperative blood loss in pediatric posterior fossa tumors by neuroradiological evaluation: preliminary study.

Background: Hemorrhage management is crucial for surgical resection of pediatric posterior-fossa tumors (PPFTs). Tumor volume and vascularity on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help predict and control intraoperative blood loss (IBL). The present study aimed to assess the correlation between MRI features and IBL in PPFTs.

Arrested development: the dysfunctional life history of medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma is a heterogeneous embryonal tumor of the cerebellum comprised of four distinct molecular subgroups that differ in their developmental origins, genomic landscapes, clinical presentation, and survival. Recent characterization of the human fetal cerebellum at single-cell resolution has propelled unprecedented insights into the cellular origins of medulloblastoma subgroups, including those underlying previously elusive groups 3 and 4. In this review, the molecular pathogenesis of medulloblastoma is examined through the lens of cerebellar development.

Predicting cerebellar mutism syndrome in children using lesion map combined with clinical features.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a predictive model for cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) in pediatric patients with posterior fossa tumors, integrating lesion-symptom mapping (LSM) data with clinical factors, and to assess the model's performance.

Methods: A cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with posterior fossa tumors and undergoing surgery at Beijing Children's Hospital from July 2013 to December 2023 was analyzed. Clinical variables gender, age at surgery, tumor characteristics, hydrocephalus, surgical route and pathology were collected.

Psychosocial and executive functioning late effects in pediatric brain tumor survivors after proton radiation.

Purpose: Pediatric brain tumor survivors can experience detrimental effects from radiation treatment. This cross-sectional, large cohort study examined late psychosocial and executive functioning effects in pediatric patients treated ≥ 3 years after proton radiation therapy (PRT).

Methods: Parents of 101 pediatric brain tumor survivors completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function.

Feasibility study of computed high b-value diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for pediatric posterior fossa tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of computed diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in pediatric posterior fossa tumors generated using high b-values.

Methods: We retrospectively performed our study on 32 pediatric patients who had undergone brain magnetic resonance imaging for a posterior fossa tumor between January 2016 and January 2022. The DWIs were evaluated for each patient by two blinded radiologists.

A review of sonodynamic therapy for brain tumors.

Objective: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is gaining attention as a promising new noninvasive brain tumor treatment that targets and selectively kills tumor cells, with limited side effects. This review examines the mechanisms of SDT and ongoing clinical trials looking at optimization of sonication parameters for potential treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). The results in the first patient with recurrent GBM treated at the Mayo Clinic are briefly discussed.

Posterior Fossa Craniopharyngioma Arising from the Inferior Medullary Velum.

We report the case of a 63-year-old man with a midline posterior fossa tumor and peculiar imaging features where we were unsure of the nature of the lesion preoperatively. Histopathology revealed it to be a craniopharyngioma. It appeared to arise from the inferior medullary velum, a site not described before in the literature.

Clinical improvement of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma treated with radiation therapy concurrent with temozolomide: A case report.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a highly aggressive paediatric brain tumour and nowadays has not had satisfactory result, with most patients do not survive within 1 year of diagnosis. Due to its proximity to critical organs, surgery is avoided, and radiation is the mainstay of treatment. In this case report, we present a case of DIPG treated with radiation and concurrent temozolomide.

Clival chordomas and chondrosarcomas in Denmark-Outcomes in 33 patients following the national centralization of treatment in 2010.

Purpose: This 13-year consecutive case series aims to provide a comprehensive overview of all patients operated for clival chordomas and clival chondrosarcomas in Denmark since the centralization of treatment in 2010, comparing outcomes to international series.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 33 patients with clival tumors, comprising 22 chordomas and 11 chondrosarcomas, who were treated at Copenhagen University Hospital between years 2010 and 2023. Data were collected from digital patient records and pathology reports.

Upper brainstem pediatric low-grade gliomas: review and neuroendoscopic approach.

Pediatric brain tumors, particularly those affecting the brainstem, present a significant challenge due to their intricate anatomical location and diverse classification. This review explores the classification, anatomical considerations, and surgical approaches for pediatric brainstem tumors, focusing on recent updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Brainstem tumors encompass a spectrum from diffuse gliomas to focal intrinsic and exophytic types, each presenting unique clinical and surgical challenges.

Successful pain control with add-on methadone for refractory neuropathic pain due to radiation necrosis in pontine metastatic lesion: a case report.

Background: Central pain, characterized by neuropathic pain, can manifest due to injury to the superior spinothalamic tract. The brainstem includes sensory and motor pathways as well as nuclei of the cranial nerves, and therefore cancer metastasis in the region requires early intervention. Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is commonly employed for the treatment of brain metastasis, it poses risks of late complications like radiation necrosis (RN).

A Novel Way for Efficient and Safe Posterior Fossa Relaxation: The Extradural Opening of the Cisterna Magna in Retrosigmoid Craniotomy.

Cerebrospinal fluid drainage is a common practice to provide brain relaxation during intradural surgery. In retrosigmoid approaches, cerebrospinal fluid can be drained from the cisterna magna to provide brain relaxation in the posterior fossa. To our knowledge, most techniques to achieve cerebrospinal fluid release concern intradural opening of the cisterns.

The predictive value of intraoperative facial motor evoked potentials in cerebellopontine angle tumor surgery.

Objective: Our aim is to explore the value of intraoperative facial motor evoked potentials (FMEP) for facial outcomes in cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor surgery to provide an evidence-based consensus standard for future clinical practice and prospective studies.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched from inception to June 2023. Study quality was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool.

Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Endolymphatic Sac Tumors: A Single-Center Experience of 29 Patients.

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and surgical outcomes of patients with endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs).

Study Design: Single institution retrospective cohort study.

Methods: The clinical data of 29 patients with 30 ELSTs who underwent surgery were retrospectively reviewed.

Five-year follow-up after neurosurgery complicated by facial neuropathy.

Background: Botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections are effective for facial neuropathy. However, there is insufficient number of studies devoted to long-term management of these patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of BTA therapy in patients with facial neuropathy after neurosurgical interventions.

Medulloblastomas Initiated by Homologous Recombination Defects in Mice.

Germline mutations of homologous-recombination (HR) genes are among the top contributors to medulloblastomas. A significant portion of human medulloblastomas exhibit genomic signatures of HR defects. Whether ablation of Brca2 and Palb2, and their related Brca1 and Bccip genes, in the mouse brain can differentially initiate medulloblastomas was explored here.

Surgical outcome of sinodural meningiomas.

Introduction: Meningiomas located in the posterior fossa and involving the sinodural angle at the junction of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses are uncommon and present unique challenges due to their complex anatomical location. Despite their distinctive features, they are frequently categorized with tentorial meningiomas in the literature.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care center involved 64 patients with sinodural meningiomas who underwent surgical treatment between 2010 and 2023.