World Neurosurg
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Review Case Reports
Discovery of Aquaporin-1 and Aquaporin-4 Expression in an Intramedullary Spinal Cord Ependymal Cyst: Case Report.
Intramedullary ependymal cysts of the spinal cord are rare, benign, fluid-filled cysts usually situated along the ventral surface of the spinal cord. Only 32 cases have been reported since they were first described. Thus, owing to the rarity at which these cysts are encountered, their management and pathogenesis remain controversial. Whereas some investigators have advocated for cystosubarachnoid shunt placement for symptomatic ependymal cysts, others have argued for complete cyst resection or simple fenestration. Here we report the case of a 56-year-old female with a T11-T12 ependymal cyst that was successfully managed with cyst fenestration. We further investigated a potential pathological mechanism of cyst formation by performing immunohistochemistry to detect aquaporin expression in the cyst lining. ⋯ Intramedullary ependymal cysts are rare, cystic lesions of the spinal cord. Early cyst fenestration decompresses the cyst and prevents neurologic deterioration. Here we report for the first time that aquaporins are expressed in the cyst wall, which is consistent with a passive, osmotic pathogenic mechanism of cyst formation.
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Review Meta Analysis
Surgical resection and cellular proliferation index predict prognosis for patients with papillary glioneuronal tumor (PGNT): a systematic review and pooled analysis.
Although the World Health Organization classifies papillary glioneuronal tumor (PGNT) as a grade I tumor, several malignant cases have been reported. In this study, we examined the clinical and prognostic characteristics of PGNT. ⋯ PGNT is a benign tumor of young adults, but can present atypically as high grade. Male sex, low cellular proliferation, and maximal surgical resection are positive prognostic indicators for PGNT.
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Review Case Reports
Metastatic Cardiac Angiosarcoma to the Lung, Spine, and Brain: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Metastatic angiosarcoma to the brain is a rare entity without an established management protocol. ⋯ Angiosarcomas are rare tumors that are difficult to treat. Gross total resection of a central nervous system metastasis is recommended before initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Close follow-up is still required given the propensity for continued metastasis of these tumors. Future treatments may be developed based on the genomics of angiosarcomas.
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There is a paucity of data determining the impact that gender disparities have on spine outcomes, particularly perception of health and satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in 3-month and 1-year patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction after elective lumbar spine surgery. ⋯ Our study suggests that there may be differences in perception of health, pain, and disability between men and women at baseline, short-term and long-term follow-up that may influence overall patient satisfaction.