Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery
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Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 2007
Clinical TrialSubthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease patients intolerant to levodopa.
Levodopa responsiveness has been shown to be the best predictor of improvement after subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of STN DBS on PD patients intolerant to levodopa due to severe acute side effects such as intolerable nausea. There were 10 patients in the study who received STN DBS for PD. ⋯ Patient global ratings also indicated significant improvements at all follow-up visits. There were no differences in stimulator settings between the two groups at the 3-, 6- or 12-month follow-up visits. In conclusion, although levodopa responsiveness is the best predictor for outcome after STN DBS, carefully selected PD patients intolerant to levodopa can have significant improvement.
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Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 2007
Clinical TrialIntracerebral microvascular measurements during deep brain stimulation implantation using laser Doppler perfusion monitoring.
The aim of the study was to investigate if laser Doppler perfusion monitoring (LDPM) can be used in order to differentiate between gray and white matter and to what extent microvascular perfusion can be recorded in the deep brain structures during stereotactic neurosurgery. An optical probe constructed to fit in the Leksell Stereotactic System was used for measurements along the trajectory and in the targets (globus pallidus internus, subthalamic nucleus, zona incerta, thalamus) during the implantation of deep brain stimulation leads (n = 22). The total backscattered light intensity (TLI) reflecting the grayness of the tissue, and the microvascular perfusion were captured at 128 sites. ⋯ In 6 sites the perfusion was more than 6 times higher than the closest neighbor indicating a possible small vessel structure. TLI was significantly higher (p < 0.005) and the perfusion significantly lower (p < 0.005) in positions identified as white matter in the respective MRI batch. The measurements imply that LDPM has the potential to be used as an intracerebral guidance tool.
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Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 2007
A 12-month prospective study of gasserian ganglion stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain.
Trigeminal neuropathic pain is a broad diagnostic category that includes pain of several etiologies and excludes trigeminal neuralgia. The authors report a prospective series of percutaneous gasserian ganglion stimulation for trigeminal neuropathic pain. ⋯ The results in this series were variable but 3 patients showed long-term improvements. Patients who continued to work responded better to treatment.
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Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 2007
Clinical TrialHypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy in patients with one or two brain metastases.
A small fraction of patients with 1-2 brain metastases will not be suitable candidates to either surgical resection or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) due to either their location or their size. The objective of this study was to determine the local control, survival, patterns of relapse and the incidence of brain injury following a course of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy while avoiding upfront whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in this subgroup of patients. ⋯ The preliminary results of hypofractionated SRS are comparable to both surgery and SRS data for solitary brain metastases in terms of local control and overall survival with acceptable morbidity in this cohort of unfavorable patients.
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Stereotact Funct Neurosurg · Jan 2007
Case ReportsHistopathology of radiation necrosis with severe peritumoral edema after gamma knife radiosurgery for parasagittal meningioma. A report of two cases.
Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) has been an effective treatment for meningiomas. Nevertheless, it still has certain risks. We present 2 cases of parasagittal meningioma after GKS complicated with radiation necrosis and peritumoral edema. The results of histologic examination are discussed. ⋯ After radiosurgery peritumoral edema tends to occur in meningiomas with a parasagittal position. Radiation necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and radiation injury to the vasculature causing hyalinization of blood vessels are suggested as the underlying histopathology.