World Neurosurg
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Training of intra-axial brain tumor resection using a self-made simple device with agar and gelatin.
Self-made devices composed of agar and gelatin gel were used for resident training in intra-axial brain tumor resection. The mixture gel of agar and gelatin is retractable and can be suctioned. Hardness of the gel depends on the concentration of the solution. Therefore, by changing the concentration, it is easy to make gels of various hardness. ⋯ Our devices with "tumors" of various hardness appear to be suitable for resident training in each surgical skill. For the next step of this study, we will attempt to fabricate more practical 3-dimensional gel models for presurgical simulation.
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Case Reports
Microscopic minimally invasive keyhole technique for surgical resection of spinal dumbbell tumors.
Multiple surgical modalities have been developedl and applied for surgical excision of spinal dumbbell tumors. The microscopic minimally invasive keyhole technique has not yet been well characterized for this purpose. We report our experience with 1-stage surgical resection of both intraforaminal and extraforaminal/paraspinal components of spinal dumbbell tumors using the microsurgical keyhole technique. ⋯ The microscopic minimally invasive keyhole technique can be used successfully for resection of spinal dumbbell tumors. Further comparative studies are warranted to demonstrate the benefits of the microsurgical keyhole technique compared with traditional open procedures for surgical resection of spinal dumbbell tumors.
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Cavernous malformations in the pineal region are rare and difficult to anticipate from preoperative evaluation in patients with pineal apoplexy. We herein report the first case of a pineal cavernous malformation with superficial siderosis. Radiological findings were helpful in identifying the presence of the cavernous malformation. ⋯ Radiological findings of superficial siderosis on T2-star-weighted gradient-echo imaging are useful to making a diagnosis of cavernous malformation in cases of pineal apoplexy. They are also important for making the treatment decision to perform total mass resection, which is the best curative method for pineal cavernous malformations.
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Effect of Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection in Patients with Central Cervical Spinal Stenosis.
To investigate the effect of interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ESI) for management of central cervical spinal stenosis-induced posterior neck pain. ⋯ Cervical interlaminar ESI appears to be a good treatment method for managing chronic posterior neck pain induced by central cervical spinal stenosis, especially when pain is refractory to oral medication.
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Rapid growth is a well-known property of glioblastoma (GBM); however, growth rates vary among patients. Mechanisms behind such variation have not been widely studied in human patients. We sought to investigate relationships between histopathologic features and tumor growth estimated from pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging scans. ⋯ Our findings show that high cellular density and thromboses are significant independent predictors of faster growth in human GBM. This finding underlines the importance of hypercellularity as a criterion in glioma grading. Furthermore, our findings are concordant with hypotheses suggesting hypoxia triggered by thromboses to be relevant for growth of GBM.