World Neurosurg
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Anterior cervical surgery is routinely performed using fluoroscopy. Visualizing the lower cervical levels can be challenging, particularly in obese, muscular, and broad-shouldered patients. We found that grabbing both feet of the patient at the level of the metatarsals and cranially pushing the feet, creating dorsiflexion at the ankle joints, seems to increase the number of fluoroscopically visualized cervical levels. We aimed to measure the average change in fluoroscopically visualized levels when performing this maneuver. ⋯ We propose a simple, convenient, and effective technique to increase the number of visualized cervical levels on lateral cervical fluoroscopy. This maneuver may have some advantages compared with other commonly used techniques.
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Review Meta Analysis
Effect of Temozolomide and Radiotherapy on Brain Metastatic Tumor: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
To systematically evaluate safety and efficacy of temozolomide plus radiotherapy in the treatment of brain metastasis. ⋯ Addition of temozolomide to radiotherapy could increase ORR in brain metastatic tumors. However, it did not significantly improve PFS or OS in the patients with brain metastases but increased risk of drug-related toxicity.
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Moyamoya disease is a cerebral vasculopathy characterized by stenosis of the terminal internal carotid artery, proximal middle cerebral artery, and anterior cerebral artery. There is an association between moyamoya vasculopathy and Graves disease, primarily in Asian populations. Here, we present the largest series of non-Asian, predominantly Latino patients with moyamoya vasculopathy in the setting of Graves thyrotoxicosis, as well as the largest review of the literature to date. ⋯ Moyamoya vasculopathy associated with Graves disease thyrotoxicosis in non-Asian women may be more common than previously thought. In addition, our series suggests that thyrotoxicosis promotes the progression of vasculopathy. Based on our review, there is no significant difference in clinical improvement between proper medical and surgical therapies. Aggressive medical therapy should be considered first-line treatment for moyamoya vasculopathy with Graves thyrotoxicosis, with neurosurgical rescue reserved for medically refractory cases.
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Radical resection of dominant insular gliomas is difficult because of their close vicinity with internal capsule, basal ganglia, and speech centers. Brain mapping techniques can be used to maximize the extent of tumor removal and to minimize postoperative morbidities by precise localization of eloquent cortical and subcortical areas. ⋯ Brain mapping during awake craniotomy helps to maximize extent of tumor resection while preserving neurologic function in patients with dominant insular lobe glioma.
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Multicenter Study
"Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: Treatment and Outcome Analysis in 121 Patients".
Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) are uncommon. Because of their low incidence, only 5 series with more than 30 patient cases have been reported. The treatment of PCA aneurysms is challenging because of the high frequency of fusiform aneurysms and closeness to important neuroanatomic structures. ⋯ Aneurysms of the PCA are infrequent and often associated with other vascular diseases. Microsurgery and endovascular treatment are effective for the occlusion of PCA aneurysms. The preservation or reconstruction of the parent vessel is crucial for favorable treatment outcomes.