Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2021
Case ReportsNear-complete regression 19 years after Gamma Knife radiosurgery of vestibular schwannoma with massive pseudoprogression: case report.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is a frequent treatment choice for patients with small- to moderate-sized vestibular schwannoma (VS). However, pseudoprogression after GKRS is commonly observed, with a reported incidence ranging from 7% to 77%. The wide range of the reported incidence of pseudoprogression reflects the fact that there is no consensus on how it should be diagnosed. ⋯ By 229 months after treatment, the tumor volume was 1.0 cm3, equaling 12.5% of pretreatment tumor volume, or 4.8% of peak tumor volume after treatment. This case demonstrates that if a patient remains asymptomatic despite a dramatic increase in tumor volume after GKRS, observation remains an option, because even a very sizable tumor can shrink with near-complete resolution. Patients undergoing GKRS for VS should be counseled regarding the possibility of pseudoprogression, and followed carefully over time while avoiding premature decisions for surgical removal after treatment.
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2021
Predictors of visual functional outcome following treatment for cavernous sinus meningioma.
Cavernous sinus meningioma (CSM) can affect visual function and require expeditious treatment to prevent permanent visual loss. Authors of this retrospective study sought to determine the factors associated with visual functional outcomes in CSM patients treated with surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), alone or in combination. ⋯ Pretreatment visual functional assessment predicts visual outcomes in patients with CSM and can be used to identify patients at greater risk for vision loss.
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2021
Thick and diffuse cisternal clot independently predicts vasospasm-related morbidity and poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The presence of thick, diffuse subarachnoid blood may portend a worse clinical course and outcome, independently of other known prognostic factors such as age, aneurysm size, and initial clinical grade. ⋯ In a large, centrally adjudicated population of patients with aSAH, WFNS grade at admission and thick, diffuse SAH independently predicted vasospasm-related morbidity and poor 12-week clinical outcome. Patients with thick, diffuse cisternal SAH may be an important cohort to target in future clinical trials of treatment for vasospasm.
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2021
Comparative StudyComparative efficacy of autologous versus cadaveric saphenous vein grafts in cerebral revascularization surgery.
Cerebral bypasses are performed for the purpose of either flow augmentation for ischemic cerebrovascular disease or flow replacement for vessel sacrifice during complex aneurysm or tumor surgery. Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are commonly used interposition grafts. The authors of this study sought to compare the efficacy of autologous versus cadaveric SVGs in a large series of cerebral bypasses using interposition vein grafts with long-term angiographic follow-up. ⋯ Cadaveric SVGs are a reasonable interposition graft option in cerebral revascularization surgery when autologous grafts are not available.
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2021
Comparative StudyEffects of implantation of a deep brain stimulation device on patient weight in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established therapy for treating neurological movement disorders. Some patients who have received DBS therapy have noticed significant weight gain. Further investigation into correlations between patient characteristics and weight gain following DBS device implantation, which the authors here have done, will provide physicians with useful clinical information. ⋯ PD patients experienced a significant change in weight over time after DBS therapy, whereas ET patients did not. PD patients with an STN target site experienced greater weight gain, on average, than those with a GPi target site. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in BMI at 6 and 12 months in patients with an STN target compared to that in patients with a GPi target. PD patients whose LED was reduced after DBS gained more weight at 6 and 12 months after surgery than the patients whose LED was kept at the same level or increased.