World Neurosurg
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Synchronous tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are very rare and inconsistently described. We present 2 cases of contiguous vestibular schwannoma (VS) and meningioma and a systematic literature review of all multiple CPA tumors. ⋯ Multiple CPA tumors are rare, heterogeneous lesions with a marked predisposition toward poor facial nerve outcomes, potentially attributable to a paracrine mechanism that simultaneously drives multiple tumor growth and increases invasiveness or adhesiveness at the facial nerve-tumor interface. Preceding nomenclature has been confounding and inconsistent; we recommend classifying all multiple CPA tumors as "synchronous tumors," with "schwannoma with meningothelial hyperplasia" or "tumor-to-tumor metastases" reserved for rare, specific circumstances.
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Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) is a widely accepted technique for sellar tumors. Common findings during preoperative assessment include septal deviations and turbinate hypertrophy. This study evaluated quality of life changes after concurrent septoplasty and/or inferior turbinoplasty during EETS. ⋯ Patients who underwent concurrent septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty with EETS had a significantly improved quality of life compared with preoperative assessment, specifically regarding psychological and sleep symptoms.
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Review Meta Analysis
Interventions for lumbar synovial facet joint cysts: a comparison of percutaneous, surgical decompression and fusion approaches.
Facet joint cysts (FJCs) of the lumbar spine are an increasingly reported cause of radiculopathy, lower back pain, and neurologic deficits. Currently, there is a lack of conclusive evidence outlining when a particular treatment should be undertaken and what patient indications suit a particular approach. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous treatment and surgical decompression with or without fusion. ⋯ Evaluation of the literature shows surgical intervention to be advantageous over percutaneous procedures for the treatment of lumbar FJCs. There is no evidence suggesting when fusion should be undertaken because of the limited data available.
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Review Case Reports
Cranial pilocytic astrocytoma with spinal drop metastasis in an adult: case report and literature review.
Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a benign neoplasm that typically occurs in the brain within the pediatric and adolescent age groups and is uncommon in adults. It rarely occurs within the ventricles, and the overall prognosis is favorable. A PA of the brain with spinal metastasis at presentation has never been reported in an adult. ⋯ This case illustrates a unique instance of hemorrhage into a cerebral PA with a spinal metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in an adult. We review the literature on the subject.