World Neurosurg
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To report the experience of 1 hospital in the transition from the microscopic approach to the endoscopic endonasal approach for pituitary disease and skull base tumor surgery. ⋯ It is important to separate the 2 approaches, the endoscopic endonasal transsellar approach and the endoscopic endonasal extended approach, and to avoid unnecessary extended approaches. The use of an endoscopic endonasal approach has added value for lesions localized between the tuberculum sellae and the odontoid. The added value of endoscopic endonasal approaches for lesions in front of the tuberculum sellae is less clear and must be evaluated in the future.
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Metastases to the spine are a common manifestation of breast cancer leading to considerable reduction in the patient's quality of life. Physicians must consider the different treatments available to decrease pain, reduce tumor burden, and ensure spinal stability to prevent neurological compromises. The first objective of this study is to analyze the epidemiology and outcomes of patients with spinal metastases from breast cancer and describe changes over time in these lesions. The second objective is to establish the current treatment of spinal metastases in this type of cancer. ⋯ The survival rate was better in patients with spinal metastases who received specific treatment. The evolution from lytic spinal metastasis to mixed and blastic subtypes is observed with adjunctive therapy for spinal metastases (bisphosphonates, radiotherapy). Increased attention must be given for high-grade breast cancer, as spinal metastases declare faster for these stages. This study provides evidence that a multidisciplinary tumor board specifically focusing on bone metastasis is essential to effectively manage patients with breast cancer and spinal metastasis.
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To report our clinical experience with an advanced navigation protocol that provides seamless integration into the operating workflow of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. ⋯ The advanced navigation protocol permits continuous suction-tracked navigation guidance during endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and optimal visualization of solid bone, fine paranasal sinus structures, soft-tissue and vascular structures. This may add to the safety of the procedure especially in cases of anatomical variations and in cases of recurrent adenomas with distorted anatomy.
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Tumors of the jugular foramen are notably rare, and the majority of them arise from the glomic tissue of the jugular vein. There are other tumors that do not originate from that tissue, and these are called the nonglomic tumors. This report includes a series of patients with nonglomic tumors of the jugular foramen to analyze their biological and radiological behavior and the clinical outcomes of patients. ⋯ The most common nonglomic tumor of the jugular foramen was the schwannoma, which was the lesion with the best surgical prognosis. Chordoma is a rare and highly destructive tumor that has a notably high recurrence index.
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Iliac crest autograft is the historic gold standard for bone grafting, but is associated with a significant patient morbidity. Fusion rates of C1-C2 up to 88.9% using allograft and 96.7% using autologous iliac crest bone graft can be achieved when combined with rigid screw fixation. We sought to determine our fusion rate when combining allograft with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rh-BMP2) and rigid screw fixation. ⋯ The use of small doses of rh-BMP2 added to allograft in addition to rigid screw fixation is a safe and highly effective means of promoting a solid fusion of the atlantoaxial complex and spares the patient the morbidity of iliac crest harvest.