Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
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Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the most severe pediatric solid tumor, with no significant improvement in the past 50 years. Possible reasons for failure to make therapeutic progress include poor understanding of the underlying molecular biology due to lack of tumor material. ⋯ Stereotactic biopsies of DIPG can be considered as a safe procedure in well-trained neurosurgical teams and could be incorporated in protocols. It is a unique opportunity to integrate DIPG biopsies in clinical practice and use the biology at diagnosis to drive the introduction of innovative targeted therapies, in combination with radiotherapy.
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External to internal carotid artery anastomoses are normally found in man. However, such connections at the skull base between the cavernous internal carotid artery and middle meningeal artery are rarely discussed in the literature and when present, are difficult, if not impossible, to see with imaging studies unless pathologically enlarged. Therefore, the aim of the present anatomic study was to investigate such connections via cadaveric dissection. ⋯ The majority of cadaveric sides in our study were found to have anastomoses at the skull base between the cavernous segment of the internal carotid and middle meningeal arteries. These very small connections would most likely not be visualized on imaging studies. These connections most likely function in times of carotid artery ischemia that is chronic in nature (e.g., Moya Moya disease) and may, in the past, have been misidentified as a human rete mirabile.
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Navigated intracranial endoscopy with conventional technique usually requires sharp head fixation. In children, especially in those younger than 1 year of age and in older children with thin skulls due to chronic hydrocephalus, sharp head fixation is not possible. Here, we studied the feasibility, safety, and accuracy of electromagnetic (EM)-navigated endoscopy in a series of children, obviating the need of sharp head fixation. ⋯ EM-navigated endoscopy in children is a safe and useful technique enhancing endoscopic intracranial surgery and obviating the need of sharp head fixation. It is a good alternative to the common opto-electric navigation system in this age group.
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Editorial Biography Historical Article
Bani Adam: Saadi Shirazi (AD 1184-1283/1291) and the concept of empathy.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of modified pedicle subtraction osteotomy (mPSO) for thoracolumbar post-tubercular kyphosis in pediatric patients. ⋯ Modified pedicle subtraction osteotomy (mPSO) is effective and reliable for thoracolumbar post-tubercular kyphosis in pediatric patients.