Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2024
Electrocorticography and navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation-tailored supratotal resection for epileptogenic low-grade gliomas.
Epilepsy is commonly associated with low-grade gliomas (LGGs), impacting patients' well-being. While resection is the primary treatment, seizures can persist postoperatively in 27%-55% of cases. The authors aimed to evaluate an electrocorticography (ECoG) and navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS)-tailored supratotal resection (ETT-SpTR) for LGG in controlling seizures, preserving neurological function, and enhancing treatment effectiveness. ⋯ This preliminary study affirms the predictive value of TMS for postoperative neurological status and safety in epileptic patients. Intraoperative ECoG effectively identified peritumoral HREAs. ETT-SpTR significantly improved epileptic outcomes, preserving functions without permanent neurological worsening. Additional resection targets the HREAs in the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2024
Wartime penetrating traumatic brain injury of the anterior skull base involving the paranasal sinuses: a single-center, first-year experience from Dnipro, Ukraine.
Since February 2022, the number of casualties in the Russian-Ukrainian war have dramatically increased, with a high incidence of penetrating traumatic brain injuries (pTBIs). To date, there has been limited evaluation of pTBI of the anterior skull base involving the paranasal sinuses. The objective of this study was to highlight the authors' experience with this injury pattern and identify specific factors associated with favorable short-term (1-month) outcome and survival. ⋯ This was the largest single-year study on neurosurgical treatment of wartime pTBI involving the paranasal sinuses. Implementation of primary neurosurgical intervention at the time of presentation demonstrated promising early results and a shift away from expectant management of this injury pattern. The association of high admission GCS score, low ISS, favorable injury lateralization, and no midline shift on favorable short-term outcomes or survival has not been previously documented with this injury pattern.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2024
Oral and general health quality of life following a subtemporal preauricular infratemporal approach with condylar fossa osteotomy in surgical skull base tumor resection.
With the capacity to provide maximal lesion exposure, the subtemporal preauricular infratemporal (SPI) approach with condylar fossa osteotomy is highly utilized in radical resection of skull base tumors. While this approach requires disruption of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) for access, the effects of this maneuver are poorly appreciated in neurosurgery. The aim of this study was to assess the morbidity of condylar fossa osteotomies by comparing oral health quality of life (OHQOL) and general health quality of life (GHQOL) outcomes after TMJ-involving and TMJ-sparing skull base approaches. ⋯ The authors report novel findings regarding the impact of the SPI approach with a condylar fossa osteotomy on OHQOL and GHQOL among skull base tumor patients. Anatomical disruption of the TMJ was not associated with significant clinical TMJ dysfunction. Compared with TS patients, CS patients had even lower mean scores in TMJ-related morbidity, and both groups had lower TMJ morbidity than patients diagnosed with chronic TMJ dysfunction. Condylar fossa osteotomies can therefore be considered without concern of significant additional morbidity.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2024
Rates and predictors of loss to follow-up for sporadic vestibular schwannomas undergoing imaging surveillance.
Imaging surveillance with serial MRI, or a "wait-and-scan" approach, is a management option for patients with small or medium-sized vestibular schwannomas (VSs). Prior publications have indicated no distinct quality of life advantage to upfront treatment compared with initial wait-and-scan management. However, imaging surveillance is dependent on patient adherence to follow-up. In this study, the authors aimed to identify rates and predictors of patient loss to follow-up during wait-and-scan management of sporadic VS. ⋯ Patients undergoing imaging surveillance of VS are at risk for loss to follow-up and inconsistent imaging surveillance. Patients with smaller tumors or those living farther away from the treating institution are at highest risk for being lost to follow-up.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Oct 2024
Natural history and management outcomes of patients with ruptured Spetzler-Martin grade IV and V brain arteriovenous malformations.
The natural history of ruptured high Spetzler-Martin grade IV and V brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) is underreported given the scarcity of this pathology, and decision-making for patients with bAVMs remains unclarified. In this study, the authors sought to shed light on this topic. ⋯ The natural history of cortical ruptured high-grade bAVMs bears a risk similar to that of incidental bAVMs, whereas deep-seated ruptured high-grade bAVMs have an increased risk of hemorrhage. With extremely prudent patient selection, surgery might be a viable option for cortical bAVMs to obliterate the bAVM and reduce hemorrhagic risk, while preserving functional status. Radiosurgery might be beneficial to lower hemorrhagic risk in deep-seated bAVMs. Embolization as a single modality should be avoided as it provides no benefit to reduce hemorrhagic risk.