World Neurosurg
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Ventral decompressive surgery of the craniocervical junction is performed to manage a variety of conditions, including basilar invagination, which can be associated with platybasia. We have noted that the anatomic changes of platybasia could affect the height of the odontoid over a line drawn along the nasal cavity floor, the palatine line (PL). This anatomic change may influence the use of nasal endoscopic surgery for patients with platybasia who also have basilar invagination. We investigated whether the height of the craniocervical junction is elevated over the PL in patients with and without platybasia. ⋯ Platybasia is associated with an increase in the odontoid and craniocervical junction over the PL. This increase in height has implications for endoscopic approach selection in patients with platybasia. Platybasia patients with basilar invagination may be better suited to a transnasal approach.
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To compare intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided resection with resection guided by 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced fluorescence in patients with gliomas and to evaluate the impact of intraoperative MRI in glioma surgery. ⋯ Intraoperative MRI-guided resection is a powerful tool to treat 5-ALA (-) gliomas (mostly low grade), and 5-ALA is useful for high-grade gliomas. The combination of intraoperative MRI and 5-ALA has a synergistic effect in glioma surgery. Additionally, precise tumor grading in preoperative imaging studies can be difficult. Surgery for gliomas should be performed using both 5-ALA-induced fluorescence and intraoperative MRI-guided resection.
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Over 75,000 patients have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures worldwide. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important clinical and research tool in analyzing electrode location, documenting postoperative complications, and investigating novel symptoms in DBS patients. Functional MRI may shed light on the mechanism of action of DBS. MRI safety in DBS patients is therefore an important consideration. ⋯ The importance of MRI in modern medicine places pressure on industry to develop fully MRI-compatible DBS devices. Until then, the literature suggests that, when observing certain precautions, cranial MR images can be obtained with an extremely low risk in patients with implanted DBS hardware.
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Placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a well-accepted neurosurgical procedure for the management of obstructive hydrocephalus. The purpose of this study is to evaluate our long-term experience in the management of obstructive hydrocephalus in adult patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. ⋯ The results of this retrospective study show that ventriculoperitoneal shunting is effective in the management of adult patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. The overall incidence of shunt revision was comparable with previously reported studies in the literature. However, the high proportion of patients experiencing shunt failure after shunt placement is still a concern.