World Neurosurg
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Intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord account for 2%-4% of all central nervous system tumors. Surgical resection with intraoperative neuromonitoring, although challenging, remains the mainstay of treatment with the goal to prevent neurologic decline. We present a case of an unusual anaplastic glioma of the thoracic spinal cord in a 42-year-old male that spanned 7 vertebral levels and could not be definitively characterized using the 2021 World Health Organization Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors.
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Operating microscopes and adjunctive technologies are continually refined to advance microneurosurgical care. How frequently these advances are used is unknown. In the present study, we assessed the international adoption of microneurosurgical technologies and discussed their value. ⋯ The results from the present survey have characterized the current adoption of operative microscopes and adjunctive technologies in microneurosurgery. Despite numerous innovations to improve the symbiosis between neurosurgeon and microscope, their adoption has been underwhelming. Future advances are essential to improve surgical outcomes.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Investigation of asleep versus awake motor mapping in resective brain surgery.
To develop an asleep motor mapping paradigm for accurate detection of the corticospinal tract during glioma surgery and compare outcomes with awake patients undergoing glioma resection. ⋯ In this small patient series, asleep motor mapping using commonly available motor evoked potential hardware appears to be safe and efficacious in regard to EOR and functional outcomes.
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Comparative Study
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging improves the accuracy of differentiation of benign from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
In patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), it is important to accurately determine when plexiform neurofibroma (pNF) transforms to a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating pNF and MPNST in NF1 patients. ⋯ ADC values determined by DWI are useful in differentiating MPNST from pNF and adding ADC evaluation to standard MRI evaluation improved the diagnostic accuracy.
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Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a chronic neurologic syndrome that affects the elderly population in a context of concomitant medical conditions. The aim of this study was to understand the significance of comorbidities using 4 validated and specific clinical scores: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, Comorbidity Index (CMI), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). ⋯ Patients with multiple comorbidities have a worse preoperative condition compared to patients with less concomitant diseases, and the proposed comorbidity scores, CIRS in particular, are useful clinical tools for the anesthesiologist. Comorbidities, though, do not impact overall postoperative outcome.