0000000000020307
AUTHOR
Mirjam Renovanz
Evaluation of surgical decision making and resulting outcome in patients with highly eloquent glioblastoma: Results of a multicenter assessment.
Treatment of glioblastoma(GB) patients amenable only for a subtotal resection(STR) is controversial. Since outcome of patients is affected by surgical management, our aim was to assess surgical decision making and resulting outcome in patients with highly eloquent GBs.We retrospectively assessed GB patients with intended sub-total resection (STR) or stereotactic biopsy (STX) of 3 neurooncological centers operated between 2008 and 2013. A volumetric assessment of overall extent of resection(oEoR), presence of complications, new permanent neurological deficits(nPNDs) was performed. A central reviewer reassessed all cases blinded and gave recommendation on surgical management and on a potentia…
Evaluation of the apparent diffusion coefficient in patients with recurrent glioblastoma under treatment with bevacizumab with radiographic pseudoresponse
Abstract Background Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Criteria (RANO), are used to asses response to first-line treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). Differentiation between response and pseudoresponse under treatment with Bevacizumab (BVZ) remains challenging. This study evaluates ADC changes in patients with radiographic pseudoresponse under treatment with (BVZ). Methods Patients (n = 40) with recurrent GBM under-treatment with BVZ underwent MRI before, two and four months after treatment with BVZ. In patients with radiological pseudoresponse (n = 11), ADC analyses were performed. Areas with decreasing T1 contrast enhancement (CE) and FLAIR signal decrease were manually selected and compar…
P01.039 Development of signaling questions assessing distress and quality of life in glioma patients - Results of 50 interviews and an expert analysis
BACKGROUND: Due to cognitive or physical limitations, glioma patients might not be able to validly complete self-reporting tools assessing quality of life, distress, and unmet needs. This not only impairs individual patient care and therapy monitoring but also creates bias in studies applying patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). In our study, we searched for signaling questions implementable in patient-doctor consultations in order to optimize the assessment. METHODS: We performed 1) a literature research to find out the most important questions for glioma patients that are also covered by standard questionnaires. 2) After a pretest in n=10 patients, we performed structured interviews…
Compliance with patient-reported outcome assessment in glioma patients: predictors for drop out
Abstract Background Patient-reported outcomes are of high importance in clinical neuro-oncology. However, assessment is still suboptimal. We aimed at exploring factors associated with the probability for a) drop out of study and b) death during follow-up. Methods Patients were assessed twice during follow-up visits scheduled within 3 to 5 months of each other by using 3 validated patient-reported outcome measures (t1: first assessment, t2: second assessment). As “death” was seen as a competing risk for drop out, univariate competing risk Cox regression models were applied to explore factors associated with dropping out (age, gender, WHO grade, living situation, recurrent surgery, Karnofsky …
Identification of High-Risk Atypical Meningiomas According to Semantic and Radiomic Features
Up to 60% of atypical meningiomas (World Health Organization (WHO) grade II) reoccur within 5 years after resection. However, no clear radiological criteria exist to identify tumors with higher risk of relapse. In this study, we aimed to assess the association of certain radiomic and semantic features of atypical meningiomas in MRI with tumor recurrence. We identified patients operated on primary atypical meningiomas in our department from 2007 to 2017. An analysis of 13 quantitatively defined radiomic and 11 qualitatively defined semantic criteria was performed based on preoperative MRI scans. Imaging characteristics were assessed along with clinical and survival data. The analysis include…
Is There an Indication for Intraoperative MRI in Subtotal Resection of Glioblastoma? A Multicenter Retrospective Comparative Analysis.
Objective Surgery in patients with highly eloquent glioblastoma (GB) remains challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate influence of use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) on extent of resection (EOR), clinical outcome, and survival in patients with preoperatively intended subtotal resection of GB. Methods Retrospective assessment was performed in 3 neurosurgical centers (2008–2013). All patients with primary GB, unilocular growth, and adjuvant radiochemotherapy in whom subtotal resection was intended were included. Imaging data were pseudonymized and volumetrically assessed by a central reviewer. Clinical outcome was evaluated based on complications, new permanent …
Patient reported feasibility and acceptance of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening pre- and postoperatively in brain tumour patients.
Abstract Background Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) represents a short screening tool for neuropsychological deficits. The study’s aim was to test feasibility and acceptance of MoCA in patients with brain tumours perioperatively. Methods Patients with supratentorial located brain tumours were assessed preoperatively (t1, day −1) and postoperatively (t2, day 3–5) using EORTC-QLQ-C30 + BN20, Distress Thermometer (DT) and the MoCA test (different versions). Feasibility was evaluated by a feedback form and patients were asked about perceived discomfort, overstraining or complexity of MoCA. Results of MoCA were correlated with clinical factors. Results 63 patients participated, 19 were male…
P03.04 Signaling questions assessing brain tumor patients’ distress in clinical routine - a feasibility study
Abstract BACKGROUND Approximately 20%-35% of patients with intracranial tumors show depressive symptoms and distress. Assessment in these patients remains challenging due to cognitive and/or neurological deficits. We developed 3 signaling questions in order to assess patients during patient-doctor consultation. The aim is to implement them in clinical routine and to compare the results with patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) along disease trajectory. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients were prospectively examined in a structured interview applying the 3 following questions: 1),Has your mood worsened? (I)”; 2),Are you strained by physical changes? (II)”; 3),Has your faculty of thought decre…
CD133 Expression Is Not Synonymous to Immunoreactivity for AC133 and Fluctuates throughout the Cell Cycle in Glioma Stem-Like Cells.
A transmembrane protein CD133 has been implicated as a marker of stem-like glioma cells and predictor for therapeutic response in malignant brain tumours. CD133 expression is commonly evaluated by using antibodies specific for the AC133 epitope located in one of the extracellular domains of membrane-bound CD133. There is conflicting evidence regarding the significance of the AC133 epitope as a marker for identifying stem-like glioma cells and predicting the degree of malignancy in glioma cells. The reasons for discrepant results between different studies addressing the role of CD133/AC133 in gliomas are unclear. A possible source for controversies about CD133/AC133 is the widespread assumpt…
Evaluation of robot-guided minimally invasive implantation of 2067 pedicle screws
ObjectiveRecent studies have investigated the role of spinal image guidance for pedicle screw placement. Many authors have observed an elevated placement accuracy and overall improvement of outcome measures. This study assessed a bi-institutional experience following introduction of the Renaissance miniature robot for spinal image guidance in Europe.MethodsThe medical records and radiographs of all patients who underwent robot-guided implantation of spinal instrumentation using the novel system (between October 2011 and March 2015 in Mainz and February 2014 and February 2016 in Regensburg) were reviewed to determine the efficacy and safety of the newly introduced robotic system. Screw posit…
Evaluation of Resection Margin after Image-Guided Dural Tail Resection in Convexity Meningiomas
Infiltration of adjacent dura with meningioma cells is a common phenomenon. Wide resection of the dural tail (DT) to achieve a gross total resection is a general recommendation. We aimed to investigate a tumor cell infiltration of the DT after image-guided resection of convexity meningiomas. The study’s inclusion criteria were the diagnosis of convexity meningioma, planned Simpson I° resection, and an identifiable DT. Intraoperative image-guidance was applied to identify the outer edge of the DT and to guide resection. After resection, en-bloc specimen or four samples of outermost pieces of DT in case of piecemeal resection were sent for histological analysis. In addition to resection margi…
Development and external validation of a clinical prediction model for functional impairment after intracranial tumor surgery
OBJECTIVE Decision-making for intracranial tumor surgery requires balancing the oncological benefit against the risk for resection-related impairment. Risk estimates are commonly based on subjective experience and generalized numbers from the literature, but even experienced surgeons overestimate functional outcome after surgery. Today, there is no reliable and objective way to preoperatively predict an individual patient’s risk of experiencing any functional impairment. METHODS The authors developed a prediction model for functional impairment at 3 to 6 months after microsurgical resection, defined as a decrease in Karnofsky Performance Status of ≥ 10 points. Two prospective registries in…
Counseling Patients with a Glioblastoma Amenable Only for Subtotal Resection: Results of a Multicenter Retrospective Assessment of Survival and Neurologic Outcome
Background Patients with a glioblastoma (GB) amenable only for subtotal resection (STR) represent a challenge in patient counseling. Our objective was to assess impact of extent of resection (EoR) on survival and clinical outcome of these patients. Methods We performed a retrospective multicenter assessment. Patients receiving an intended STR in 3 centers with unilocular, primary, highly eloquent GB who received the same adjuvant treatment were included. We assessed EoR, neurologic outcome, and rate of complications. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated with Kaplan–Meier estimations. We used 1% EoR and 1-cm3 steps to detect a threshold for a minimal EoR …
Therapy for Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study on Health-Related Quality of Life
Objective To assess the impact of therapy on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG) in an unselected cohort. Methods In this prospective multicenter study, we analyzed European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life core questionnaire and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brain Neoplasm module questionnaires of 92 patients within 1 year after diagnosis of tumor recurrence of a HGG and respective treatment. We evaluated the influence of re-radiation, second- and third-line chemotherapies, and number of recurrent surgeries on summary scores for functioning, symptoms…
Video-Assisted Navigation for Adjustment of Image-Guidance Accuracy to Slight Brain Shift
Background Information supplied by an image-guidance system can be superimposed on the operating microscope oculars or on a screen, generating augmented reality. Recently, the outline of a patient's head and skull, injected in the oculars of a standard operating microscope, has been used to check the registration accuracy of image guidance. Objective To propose the use of the brain surface relief and superficial vessels for real-time intraoperative visualization and image-guidance accuracy and for intraoperative adjustment for brain shift. Methods A commercially available image-guidance system and a standard operating microscope were used. Segmentation of the brain surface and cortical bloo…
The association of patient age with postoperative morbidity and mortality following resection of intracranial tumors
Abstract Introduction The postoperative functional status of patients with intracranial tumors is influenced by patient-specific factors, including age. Research question This study aimed to elucidate the association between age and postoperative morbidity or mortality following the resection of brain tumors. Material and methods A multicenter database was retrospectively reviewed. Functional status was assessed before and 3–6 months after tumor resection by the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). Uni- and multivariable linear regression were used to estimate the association of age with postoperative change in KPS. Logistic regression models for a ≥10-point decline in KPS or mortality were b…
Intratumoral Heterogeneity, Its Contribution to Therapy Resistance and Methodological Caveats to Assessment
Cancer is one of the most urgent health issues of today. According to WHO, the number of cancer cases is expected to increase by 75% in the next two decades (1). Despite some remarkable achievements in the fields of cancer prevention and early detection, the goal of developing effective anti-cancer therapies still remains unmet. Tumor recurrence due to treatment resistance is the most common cause of death from cancer. Delineating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tumor recurrence is of prime importance for the ability to improve the efficacy of existing therapies and develop new strategies to cancer treatment.
Psychological Burden in Meningioma Patients under a Wait-and-Watch Strategy and after Complete Resection Is High—Results of a Prospective Single Center Study
The diagnosis of intracranial meningiomas as incidental findings is increasing by growing availability of MRI diagnostics. However, the psychological distress of patients with incidental meningiomas under a wait-and-watch strategy is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to compare the psychosocial situation of meningioma patients under wait-and-watch to patients after complete resection to bridge this gap. The inclusion criteria for the prospective monocenter study were either an incidental meningioma under a wait-and-watch strategy or no neurologic deficits after complete resection. Sociodemographic, clinical, and health-related quality of life and clinical data were assessed. Psychosocial factors…
Assessing psychological and supportive care needs in glioma patients - feasibility study on the use of the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form (SCNS-SF34-G) and the Supportive Care Needs Survey Screening Tool (SCNS-ST9) in clinical practice
Neuro-oncological patients experience high symptom and psychosocial burden. The aim was to test feasibility and practicability of the Supportive Care Needs Survey Short Form (SCNS-SF34-G) and the SCNS-Screening Tool (SCNS-ST9) to assess supportive care needs of neuro-oncological patients in clinical routine. A total of 173 patients, most with a primary diagnosis of high-grade glioma (81%), were assessed first using SCNS-SF34-G in comparison to two well-established patient-reported outcome measures, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQC30 + QLQ-BN20) and Distress Thermometer (DT). In a follow-up assessment, SCNS-ST9 was used …