Cardiac-Related Spinal Cord Tissue Motion at the Foramen Magnum is Increased in Patients with Type I Chiari Malformation and Decreases Postdecompression Surgery.

Objective: Type 1 Chiari malformation (CM-I) is a craniospinal disorder historically defined by cerebellar tonsillar position greater than 3-5 mm below the foramen magnum (FM). This definition has come under question because quantitative measurements of cerebellar herniation do not always correspond with symptom severity. Researchers have proposed several additional radiographic diagnostic criteria based on dynamic motion of fluids and/or tissues.

Measuring surgical outcomes in neurosurgery: implementation, analysis, and auditing a prospective series of more than 5000 procedures.

Object: Health care reform debate includes discussions regarding outcomes of surgical interventions. Yet quality of medical care, when judged as a health outcome, is difficult to define because of impediments affecting accuracy in data collection, analysis, and reporting. In this prospective study, the authors report the outcomes for neurosurgical treatment based on point-of-care interactions recorded in the electronic medical record (EMR).

Are laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma incidence and patient mortality a function of ABO blood grouping? A retrospective study.

Objective: Few studies have examined the association between ABO blood grouping and head and neck cancer. This retrospective review examined the association between blood group and laryngeal cancer incidence and patient mortality.

Methods: Of 271 patients treated for squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma (1997-2002), 143 patients with supraglottic, glottic and subglottic tumours were included; 128 patients were excluded.

Image-guided anatomical and morphometric study of supraorbital and transorbital minicraniotomies to the sellar and perisellar regions: comparison with standard techniques.

Object: Minimally invasive approaches have been proposed for the treatment of anterior cranial base pathology. Whereas earlier studies have quantified surgical exposure by referring to the opening on the surface, this cadaveric morphometric study redefines the concept of working area by examining the deep exposures afforded by several different approaches. Specifically, the authors systematically quantify and compare the operative exposure afforded by the pterional, supraorbital, and transorbital keyhole approaches to the sellar, suprasellar, and perisellar regions, including the anterior communicating artery complex.

Maximizing the extent of tumor resection during transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary macroadenomas: can endoscopy replace intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging?

Object: Endoscopic approaches to pituitary tumors have become an effective alternative to traditional microscopic transsphenoidal approaches. Despite a proven potential to decrease unexpected residual tumor, intraoperative MR (iMR) imaging is infrequently used even in the few operating environments in which such technology is available. Its use is prohibitive because of its cost, increased complexity, and longer operative times.

Screening for blunt cerebrovascular injury: selection criteria for use of angiography.

Object: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCI) to the carotid and vertebral arteries is being recognized with increasing frequency in trauma victims. Yet, only broadly defined criteria exist for the use of screening angiography. In this study, the authors systematically identified the associated injuries that predict BCI and provide guidelines for the types of injuries best evaluated by angiography.

Comparing the risks of frameless stereotactic biopsy in eloquent and noneloquent regions of the brain: a retrospective review of 284 cases.

Object: Frameless stereotactic biopsy has been shown in multiple studies to be a safe and effective tool for the diagnosis of brain lesions. However, no study has directly evaluated its safety in lesions located in eloquent regions in comparison with noneloquent locations. In this study, the authors determine whether an increased risk of neurological decline is associated with biopsy of lesions in eloquent regions of the brain.