Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2004
Case ReportsEvaluation of the response of metastatic brain tumors to stereotactic radiosurgery by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 201TlCl single-photon emission computerized tomography, and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
The goal of this study was to investigate the usefulness of proton (1H) magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy to evaluate the response of metastatic brain tumors to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in comparison with Gd-enhanced MR imaging and single-photon emission computerized tomography with administration of thallium-201 chloride (201TlCl-SPECT). ⋯ Based on histopathological findings obtained at autopsy or at surgery, we assume that a high Cho peak may be observed in viable tumor tissue and a Lip peak in areas of necrosis. The results indicate that 1H-MR spectroscopy is potentially a more sensitive tool in evaluating the response to SRS than 201TlCl-SPECT or Gd-enhanced MR imaging and that it can be used earlier for this purpose than those other imaging methods.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2004
Reliability of clinical guidelines in the detection of patients at risk following mild head injury: results of a prospective study.
The aims of this study were to analyze the relevance of risk factors in mild head injury (MHI) by studying the possibility of establishing prediction models based on these factors and to evaluate the reliability of the clinical guidelines proposed for the management of MHI. ⋯ Clinical variables are insufficient to predict all cases of intracranial lesions following MHI, although they can be used to detect patients with relevant injuries. Avoiding systematic CT scan indication implies a rate of misdiagnosis that should be known and assumed when planning treatment in these patients by using guidelines based on clinical parameters.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA pilot trial comparing cerebral perfusion pressure-targeted therapy to intracranial pressure-targeted therapy in children with severe traumatic brain injury.
The authors sought to compare cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)- with intracranial pressure (ICP)-targeted therapy in children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ The CPP method appears to be safe, although this feasibility study does not establish that the CPP therapy is superior to ICP therapy.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2004
Endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomy, barrel stave osteotomies, and postoperative helmet molding therapy in the management of sagittal suture craniosynostosis.
Endoscopic techniques were introduced 7 years ago for the surgical management of patients with sagittal synostosis. In this study of 139 patients with sagittal synostosis, the authors assessed the efficacy, safety, complications, and outcomes after performing endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomies with bitemporal and biparietal barrel stave osteotomies. ⋯ Analysis of the results indicates that use of the aforedescribed procedure in the early treatment of infants with sagittal synostosis provides excellent outcomes and that the morbidity rate is lower than that associated with traditional cranial vault reconstruction. Detailed anthropometric and radiographic analyses demonstrated that with adequate helmet therapy in our patients normocephaly was achieved and maintained without the need for secondary operations.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2004
Development of a cancer-specific anterior skull base quality-of-life questionnaire.
The goal of this study was to develop a disease-specific, multidimensional quality of life (QOL) assessment instrument for patients undergoing surgical extirpation of anterior skull base tumors. ⋯ The proposed questionnaire appears to be sufficiently reliable and valid in estimating a patient's QOL after extirpation of anterior skull base tumors. The instrument can be used in face-to-face interviews and via electronic or regular mail.