World Neurosurg
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Scalp metastases from anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO) are extremely rare and mostly involve intracranial recurrence or widely metastatic disease. Here we describe an exceptional case of histopathologically proven scalp metastasis of AO 6 years after surgical resection and postoperative adjuvant radiation. ⋯ This study presents a rare case of long-term AO scalp metastasis without intracranial recurrence. Intraoperative seeding and longer survival for oligodendroglial tumors may cause this rare entity. Optimal surgical strategies and standard operative procedures can promote the prevention of iatrogenic seeding.
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Meningeal melanocytomas of the central nervous system are extremely rare, with an incidence of 1 per 10 million individuals. Cases of primary cerebellopontine angle melanocytoma (PCPAM) have only been described in single case reports. The goal of the present study was to analyze the surgical management of PCPAM, with a particular focus on early and late treatment outcomes and recurrence rates. ⋯ At long-term follow-up, 3 patients had developed recurrence. Because of the high recurrence rate of PCPAM, we believe that radiotherapy in addition to surgery should be considered in the future to avoid early recurrence.
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Case Reports
Spinal Cord Toxicity from Intrathecal Chemotherapy: A Case with Clinicopathologic Correlation.
Myelopathy of the dorsal columns is a rare complication of intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy that occurs most frequently with IT methotrexate and cytarabine. This diagnosis is made with a combination of magnetic resonance imaging, somatosensory evoked potentials, and elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels, particularly myelin basic protein. ⋯ Although dorsal column myelopathy has previously been described in association with IT chemotherapy, this has solely been diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination, electrodiagnostic criteria, radiographic findings, and CSF analysis. This case provides a pathologic evaluation of an antemortem obtained specimen revealing diffuse macrophage infiltration and profound destruction of the neuropil. Whereas the mechanism underlying spinal cord toxicity following IT chemotherapy remains largely unknown, this case demonstrates a potentially macrophage-mediated process.
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Adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland (AdCASG) is a rare and malignant tumor of the salivary glands. Albeit, metastatic lesions occur anecdotally in the choroid plexus and most rarely in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). We report the first case of metastatic AdCASG to the choroid plexus of the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle located in CPA, emphasizing the clinical presentation and neuroradiologic findings. ⋯ Metastatic lesions to the choroid plexus may show a pedunculated shape in magnetic resonance imaging. It is hypothesized that tumor seeding may occur through the veins, lymphatics, and nerve sheaths in the skull base region. Tissue specimen is necessary to confirm such rare pathology.
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Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common neurosurgical condition, especially among elderly patients. Here we have analyzed our institutional experience with surgical management of CSDH. We aimed at identifying predictors of hematoma recurrence and cure, and the respective time course. ⋯ Postoperative CSDH volume and the Nakaguchi classification subtypes proved the most powerful predictors of recurrence, cure, and the time to recurrence and cure. Although our results demonstrate the important impact of CSDH volume, composition, and anatomy, they also show that other so far unknown factors play a significant role as well.