Neurologia medico-chirurgica
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2012
ReviewEfficacy and limitations of stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of glioblastoma.
Treatment of recurrent glioblastoma is still challenging. Stereotactic radiosurgery has been accepted as a treatment option for recurrent glioblastoma after standard chemotherapy and irradiation. However, the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery at recurrence has been limited, mainly due to the highly infiltrative nature of the tumor which makes the lesion difficult to define as the target. ⋯ Radiation-induced adverse event is another problem after stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent glioblastoma because almost all patients underwent irradiation as a part of the initial treatment. To overcome the side effects associated with re-irradiation, use of bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor, has shown some efficacy. Advances in irradiation technology, neuroimaging, and adjuvant treatment are needed to enhance the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent glioblastoma and reduce the morbidity associated with irradiation.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2012
ReviewNeuroendoscopic transnasal surgery for skull base tumors: basic approaches, avoidance of pitfalls, and recent innovations.
Since the introduction of endoscopic technology in the neurosurgical field, the role of transnasal surgery has been dramatically enlarged. With this technique, we can approach the anterior cranial base, parasellar region, clivus, cavernous sinus, and craniovertebral junction, less invasively than with conventional microsurgery. This review describes the two major approach methods in endoscopic skull base surgery, the endonasal approach and the transseptal approach. ⋯ The endoscopic skull base approach is one of the least invasive surgical procedures, which is a very promising therapeutic choice with potential for further advances. For better surgical outcomes and further progress, cooperation with rhinolaryngologists who have much more knowledge and experience about nasal surgery than neurosurgeons is essential. We believe this article will contribute to the development of safe and effective surgical procedures, and to the benefit of the patients suffering with intractable skull base lesions.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2012
Clinical TrialSpinal cord stimulation for treatment of patients in the minimally conscious state.
Minimally conscious state (MCS) is characterized by inconsistent but clearly discernible behavioral evidence of consciousness, and can be distinguished from coma and the vegetative state (VS). Ten MCS patients were evaluated neurologically and electrophysiologically over 3 months after the onset of brain injury, and were treated by spinal cord stimulation (SCS). A flexible four-contact, cylinder electrode was inserted into the epidural space of the cervical vertebrae, and placed at the C2-C4 levels. ⋯ Cervical SCS increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) diffusely in the brain, and CBF increased by 22.2% during the stimulation period compared with CBF before stimulation in MCS patients (p < 0.0001, paired t-test). Five-Hz cervical SCS could increase CBF and induce muscle twitches of the upper extremities. This SCS therapy method may be suitable for treating MCS.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2012
Case Reports Comparative StudyUtility of fractional anisotropy imaging analyzed by statistical parametric mapping for detecting minute brain lesions in chronic-stage patients who had mild or moderate traumatic brain injury.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has recently evolved as valuable technique to investigate diffuse axonal injury (DAI). This study examined whether fractional anisotropy (FA) images analyzed by statistical parametric mapping (FA-SPM images) are superior to T(2)*-weighted gradient recalled echo (T2*GRE) images or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images for detecting minute lesions in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. DTI was performed in 25 patients with cognitive impairments in the chronic stage after mild or moderate TBI. ⋯ FA-SPM lesions topographically included most T2* lesions in the white matter and the deep brain structures, but did not include T2* lesions in the cortex/near-cortex or lesions containing substantial hemosiderin regardless of location. All 4 patients with abnormal areas on FLAIR images had FA-SPM lesions. FA-SPM imaging is useful for detecting minute lesions because of DAI in the white matter and the deep brain structures, which may not be visualized on T2*GRE or FLAIR images, and may allow the detection of minute brain lesions in patients with post-traumatic cognitive impairment.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2012
Clinical TrialEarly cerebral circulatory disturbance in patients suffering subarachnoid hemorrhage prior to the delayed cerebral vasospasm stage: xenon computed tomography and perfusion computed tomography study.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes dynamic changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and results in delayed ischemia due to vasospasm, and early perfusion deficits before delayed cerebral vasospasm (CVS). The present study examined the severity of cerebral circulatory disturbance during the early phase before delayed CVS and whether it can be used to predict patient outcome. A total of 94 patients with SAH underwent simultaneous xenon computed tomography (CT) and perfusion CT to evaluate cerebral circulation on Days 1-3. ⋯ Higher HH grade on admission was associated with decreased CBF and CBV and prolonged MTT. CBF reduction and MTT prolongation before the onset of delayed CVS might influence the clinical outcome of SAH. These parameters are helpful for evaluating the severity of SAH and predicting the outcomes of SAH patients.