World Neurosurg
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Hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS) after carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a rare but serious complication. HPS is associated with preoperative hemodynamic impairment as the result of poor collateral flow and intraoperative cerebral ischemia. Filter-type embolic protection devices maintain anterograde carotid flow during CAS and prevent HPS somewhat. The early treatment of patients undergoing CAS and at risk for HPS is essential. Near-infrared spectroscopy allows noninvasive, real-time measurement of frontal lobe regional cerebral O2 saturation (TOI; tissue oxygenation index). ⋯ The amplitude of the TOI change measured by near-infrared spectroscopy was an excellent predictor of cerebral HPS after CAS.
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In patients with progressive low-grade glioma (LGG), the presence of new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancement is commonly used as an indicator of malignant degeneration, but its accuracy in this setting is uncertain. ⋯ In patients with progressive LGG, new MRI enhancement and pathologic grade were discordant in greater than 20% of cases. Pathologic confirmation of grade should therefore be attempted, when safe, to dictate management. Beyond functioning as a surrogate for pathologic grade, new MRI enhancement may predict for worse outcomes, a concept that merits prospective investigation.
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Microsurgical treatment for vertebral artery aneurysms can be approached through the lateral aspect of the brainstem and cerebellum. A contralateral approach may be selected in complex aneurysms with tortuous running and the intracranial vertebral artery distal to the aneurysm located in the contralateral cerebellopontine angle. When repairing the aneurysm, exposing the V3 segment before craniotomy is advantageous. We describe the detailed surgical procedures of the contralateral transcondylar fossa approach with bilateral V3 segment exposure for the repair of a complex vertebral artery aneurysm. ⋯ The contralateral transcondylar fossa approach with bilateral V3 exposure is feasible for the repair of complex vertebral artery aneurysms showing a deviated and difficult to access V4 segment proximal to the aneurysm. Bilateral V3 exposure may also facilitate aneurysm bypass procedures such as those using a V3-V4 anastomosis.
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Most evidence describing outcomes of patients with brain metastases is based on number of brain metastases, rather than location or volume. We evaluated the impact of tumor location and relative volume on overall survival (OS) among a large cohort of patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery. ⋯ The presence of brainstem metastases and cumulative supratentorial tumor volume are adverse features that result in inferior survival. These results can be used to inform patient prognosis and future clinical trial design.