World Neurosurg
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a neuromodulation process to treat neuropathic pain, initially developed on tonic paresthesia-based stimulation. In the last decade, 3 major paresthesia-free SCSs have emerged. Several studies show their superiority over tonic stimulation. ⋯ Recent studies show superiority of paresthesia-free SCS compared with tonic SCS and those results are corroborated by analysis of patients' preferences. Taking these data into account should motivate physicians to opt for multimodal capable devices before implanting SCS.
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Case Reports
Sellar cholesterol granuloma mimicking cystic sellar lesions: A report of three cases and literature review.
Cystic lesions in the sellar region include a variety of entities, such as craniopharyngioma, Rathke cleft cyst (RCC), intrasellar arachnoid cyst, cystic pituitary adenomas, cholesterol granulomas (CGs), and xanthogranulomas (XGs). The distinction among them remains a preoperative challenge due to similarities in their clinical and radiologic findings. ⋯ CG/XG is an uncommon pathology with unspecific clinical and radiologic features. However, this pathology should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mixed cystic/solid lesions in the sellar region.
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Gender is a complex social determinant of health affected by both social and biological factors. There is a need to investigate the effect of gender on outcomes, in the absence of confounding characteristics, to mitigate disparities in care. ⋯ When gender is isolated from race, household economics, and other key factors, it does not seem to independently predict morbidity or mortality in the short-term postoperative window after supratentorial brain tumor resection. Future studies should investigate the impact of gender in longer follow-up and its interrelation with other social determinants of health contributing to outcome disparity.
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With a growing aging population in the United States, the number of operative lumbar spine pathologies continues to grow. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the future demand for lumbar spine surgery volumes for the United States to the year 2040. ⋯ The large increases in expected volumes of ALIF and PLF could necessitate training of more spinal surgeons and an examination of projected costs. Further analyses are needed to characterize the needs of this increasingly large population of surgical patients.
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Many clinical and demographic factors can influence survival of patients with hematologic malignancies who have intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs). Understanding the influence of these factors on patient survival can guide treatment decisions and may inform prognostic discussions. We conducted a systematic literature review to determine survival of patients with intracranial hemorrhages and concomitant hematologic malignancy. ⋯ Survival for patients with hematologic malignancies and concomitant ICHs remains poor. Early detection, recognition of poor prognostic factors, and correction of hematologic abnormalities essential to prevention and treatment of ICHs in this patient population.