Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialCounterbalancing risks and gains from extended resections in malignant glioma surgery: a supplemental analysis from the randomized 5-aminolevulinic acid glioma resection study. Clinical article.
Accumulating data suggest more aggressive surgery in patients with malignant glioma to improve outcome. However, extended surgery may increase morbidity. The randomized Phase III 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) study investigated 5-ALA-induced fluorescence as a tool for improving resections. An interim analysis demonstrated more frequent complete resections with longer progression-free survival (PFS). However, marginal differences were found regarding neurological deterioration and the frequency of additional therapies. Presently, the authors focus on the latter aspects in the final study population, and attempt to determine how safety might be affected by cytoreductive surgery. ⋯ Extended resections performed using a tool such as 5-ALA-derived tumor fluorescence, carries the risk of temporary impairment of neurological function. However, risks are higher in patients with deficits unresponsive to steroids.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2011
Assessment of morbidity following resection of cingulate gyrus gliomas. Clinical article.
The morbidity associated with resection of tumors in the cingulate gyrus (CG) is not well established. The goal of the present study is to define the short- and long-term morbidity profile associated with resection of gliomas within this region. ⋯ Resection of gliomas involving the CG can be performed with minimal, predictable long-term morbidity (< 5%). Surgical morbidity is primarily a function of surgical trajectory rather than the particular cingulate region resected.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2011
Schwannomatosis, sporadic schwannomatosis, and familial schwannomatosis: a surgical series with long-term follow-up. Clinical article.
The aim of this study was to provide disease-specific information about schwannomatosis in its different forms and to present 2 particular cases of malignant schwannomas in the context of familial schwannomatosis (FS). ⋯ Patients suffering from schwannomatosis tend to be younger than those presenting with solitary schwannomas. Therefore, individuals presenting at a young age with multiple schwannomas but not meeting the criteria for NF2 should prompt the physician to suspect schwannomatosis. Patients with schwannomatosis who report pain should be exhaustively examined. The spine is affected in the majority of patients, and MR imaging of the spine should be part of the routine evaluation. Rapid enlargement of schwannomas in the context of FS should raise suspicion of malignant transformation.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2011
Multiple craniotomies in the management of multifocal and multicentric glioblastoma. Clinical article.
Multiple craniotomies have been performed for resection of multiple brain metastases in the same surgical session with satisfactory outcomes, but the role of this procedure in the management of multifocal and multicentric glioblastomas is undetermined, although it is not the standard approach at most centers. ⋯ Aggressive resection of all lesions in selected patients with multifocal or multicentric glioblastomas resulted in a survival duration comparable with that of patients undergoing surgery for a single lesion, without an associated increase in postoperative morbidity. This finding may indicate that conventional wisdom of a minimal role for surgical treatment in glioblastoma should at least be questioned.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2011
Risk factors for the development of serious medical complications after resection of meningiomas. Clinical article.
While the surgical and neurological risks of meningioma surgery have been reported, much less effort has been devoted to studying the rates of serious medical complications following such a procedure. The authors performed a review of 834 patients who underwent craniotomy for meningioma at their institution and analyzed the rate of major cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic complications. ⋯ Overall, the authors found that the rate of clinically detected serious medical complications is relatively low in this population (6.8%), given the duration and complexity of the meningioma operations, and is strongly linked to the subsequent development of significant medical complications. This information may be useful to surgeons in discussing the morbidity of surgery during the informed consent process.