Neurologia medico-chirurgica
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Here we describe the procedures of endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery in our institute. We also review the literature to reveal recent advances in this field. Endonasal approach via the sphenoid ostium was carried out for pituitary lesions without the nasal speculum. ⋯ Endoscopic skull base surgery is more highly specialized, so needs special techniques and surgical training. Patient selection is also important, which needs collaboration with ear, nose, and throat specialists. As a safe and successful procedure in skull base surgery, this complex procedure should be carried out only in specialized hospitals, which deal with many patients with skull base lesions.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2010
ReviewRole of γ knife radiosurgery in neurosurgery: past and future perspectives.
The gamma knife was the first radiosurgical device developed at the Karolinska Institute in 1967. Stereotactic radiosurgery using the gamma knife has been widely accepted in clinical practice and has contributed to the development of neurosurgery. More than 500,000 patients have been treated by gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery so far, and the method is now an indispensable neurosurgical tool. ⋯ There is a risk of radiation-induced adverse events, which are usually mild and less frequent. However, especially in large or invasive lesions, those risks are not negligible and pose limitations. Advancement of irradiation technology and dose planning software have enabled more sophisticated and safer treatment, and further progress will contribute to better treatment outcomes not only for brain lesions but also for cervical lesions with less invasive treatment.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2010
ReviewStandard therapy for glioblastoma--a review of where we are.
Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults and is a challenging disease to treat. The current standard therapy includes maximal safe surgical resection, followed by a combination of radiation and chemotherapy with temozolomide. However, recurrence is quite common, so we continue to search for more effective treatments both for initial therapy and at the time of recurrence. This article will review the current standard of care and recent advances in therapy for newly-diagnosed and recurrent glioblastomas, based on the most authoritative guidelines, the National Cancer Institute's comprehensive cancer database Physician Data Query (PDQ®), and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology(TM) for central nervous system cancers (V.1.2010), to elucidate the current position and in what direction we are advancing.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2010
Comparative StudyComparative analysis of spinal hemangioblastomas in sporadic disease and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
The clinical differences were evaluated in spinal hemangioblastoma between patients with sporadic disease and patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. The distribution of hemangioblastomas in the central nervous system was investigated in 56 patients treated between 1988 and 2008 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. The characteristics of spinal hemangioblastomas were compared in 35 patients including 17 with sporadic disease and 18 with VHL syndrome treated between 1988 and 2008 at our hospital and three affiliated institutions. ⋯ Tumor recurrence was correlated with partial removal of lesions (p = 0.05). One third of patients with VHL syndrome developed new lesions every 2 years. The major finding of this study is that the incidence of spinal hemangioblastoma, distributed through all spinal levels, may be as high as 88% in patients with VHL syndrome, which is much greater than previously reported.
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Jan 2010
ReviewSurgical treatment for glioma: extent of resection applying functional neurosurgery.
Current treatments for gliomas, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, frequently result in unsuccessful outcomes. Studies on glioma resection were reviewed to assess better treatment outcomes applying the newest neurosurgical multimodalities. We reviewed reports of surgical removal of gliomas utilizing functional brain mapping, monitoring, and other functional neurosurgery techniques such as neuronavigation and awake surgery. ⋯ However, those deficits often improved during the postoperative rehabilitation and recovery period when the essential or the compensative eloquent areas remained intact. Pre- and intraoperative application of the latest brain function analysis methods promoted safe elimination of gliomas. These methods are expected to help explore the long-term prognosis of glioma treatment and the mechanism for recovery from functional disabilities.