Neurosurgery
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Review Case Reports
Neoplastic Cerebral Aneurysm From Metastatic Nonsmall Cell Lung Carcinoma: Case Report and Literature Review.
Intracranial cerebral aneurysms secondary to neoplastic etiology are a very rare occurrence. There have only been 5 published reports of intracranial cerebral aneurysms secondary to metastatic lung cancer. Four of those five previously published reports have been secondary to nonsmall cell lung carcinoma, and only 1 case caused subarachnoid hemorrhage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a lung cancer-associated superior cerebellar artery aneurysm. ⋯ Intracranial neoplastic cerebral aneurysms are extremely rare entities, and a rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. This diagnosis should be considered in patients who present with concurrent metastatic cancer and cerebral aneurysm or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Early initiation of chemotherapy may be beneficial in reducing the risk of tumor-particle embolization, but more research needs to be conducted to better understand this rare phenomenon.
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Currently, there is an incomplete understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of meningiomas, the most common primary brain tumor. Several familial syndromes are characterized by increased meningioma risk, and the genetics of these syndromes provides mechanistic insight into sporadic disease. The best defined of these syndromes is neurofibromatosis type 2, which is caused by a mutation in the NF2 gene and has a meningioma incidence of approximately 50%. ⋯ The genetic mutations, molecular pathway derangements, and relationship to sporadic disease for each syndrome are described in detail to identify targets for further investigation. Familial syndromes characterized by meningiomas often affect genes and pathways that are also implicated in a subset of sporadic cases, suggesting key molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Further studies are needed to resolve the functional relevance of specific genes whose significance in sporadic disease remains to be elucidated.
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Multicenter Study
Prospective Multicenter Assessment of All-Cause Mortality Following Surgery for Adult Cervical Deformity.
Surgical treatments for adult cervical spinal deformity (ACSD) are often complex and have high complication rates. ⋯ All-cause mortality at a mean of 1.2 yr following surgery for ACSD was 9.2% in this prospective multicenter series. Causes of death were reflective of the overall high level of comorbidities. These findings may prove useful for treatment decision making and patient counseling in the context of the substantial impact of ACSD.
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Cervical total disc replacement (cTDR) is still considered a developing technology, with widespread clinical use beginning in the early 2000s. Despite being relatively new to the marketplace, the literature surrounding cTDR is abundant. We conducted a thorough review of literature published in the United States (US) and outside the US to report the current global state of cTDR research and clinical use. ⋯ Complications such as secondary surgery, heterotopic ossification, and adjacent segment degeneration also remain a focus of studies. Other external challenges facing cTDR technology include regulatory restrictions and health economics, both of which are beginning to be addressed. Combined, the evidence for cTDR is robust supporting a variety of clinical indications.
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Delirium is a postoperative neurological morbidity in glioblastoma whose risk factors, incidence, and prognostic implications remain undefined. ⋯ We developed a model to predict development of postoperative delirium using 2 tumor-specific (bihemispheric tumors and tumor size) and 3 patient-specific (age, psychiatric history, and chronic pulmonary disease) factors. High-risk patients and their families should be counseled preoperatively, and this risk could be considered in the choice of biopsy vs resection, and resection patients should be monitored closely postoperatively.