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…

Radiolucent Carbon Fiber–Reinforced Pedicle Screws for Treatment of Spinal Tumors: Advantages for Radiation Planning and Follow-Up Imaging

Objective Surgical treatment of spinal tumors regularly includes spinal instrumentation with pedicle screws. Most modern pedicle screws are made of titanium alloy, which is associated with artifacts on postoperative imaging such as computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. These artifacts hamper radiation treatment planning and execution and follow-up imaging. Recently, carbon fiber–reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFRP) implants became available for posterior instrumentation with the aim to reduce imaging artifacts by implants. Methods Patients harboring spinal tumors underwent posterior stabilization using CFRP pedicle screws. Postoperative imaging was evaluated for implant a…

The Cerebral Thrombin System Is Activated after Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Contributes to Secondary Lesion Growth and Poor Neurological Outcome in C57Bl/6 Mice

With increasing evidence for the existence of a cerebral thrombin system, coagulation factor IIa (thrombin) is suspected to influence the pathogenesis of secondary injury progression after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We hypothesized that mechanisms associated with local volume expansion after ICH, rather than blood constituents, activate the cerebral thrombin system and are responsible for detrimental neurological outcome. To test this hypothesis, we examine the local thrombin expression after ICH in a C57BL/6N mouse model in the presence and absence of blood constituents. ICH was established using stereotaxic orthotopic injection of utologous blood (

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 …

Comprehensive Anatomic Assessment of Ipsilateral Pterional Versus Contralateral Subfrontal Approaches to the Internal Carotid Ophthalmic Segment: A Cadaveric Study and Three-Dimensional Simulation

Objective Medially pointing aneurysms of the ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery (oICA) represent a neurosurgical challenge. Conventional ipsilateral approaches require internal carotid artery and optic nerve (ON) mobilization as well as anterior clinoidectomy (AC), all associated with increased surgical risk. Contralateral approaches could provide a better exposure of the superomedial aspect of the oICA, ophthalmic artery, and superior hypophyseal artery, sparing AC and internal carotid artery or ON mobilization. However, the microsurgical anatomy of this approach has not been systematically studied. In the present work, we exhaustibly analyzed the anatomic and morphometric c…

Neurosurgical resident training in Czech Republic

Introduction: Resident training is essential to be able and offer high-quality medical care. Neurosurgical training in its traditional form is currently challenged by law-enforced working hour restrictions and general re-structuring within Europe. We aimed to evaluate the current situation of resident training in the Czech Republic. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to European neurosurgical trainees between 06/2014 and 03/2015. The responses of Czech trainees were compared to those of trainees from other European countries. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect size of the relationship between a trainee being from Czech Republic and the outcomes (e.g. satisfaction…

Intrahematomal Ultrasound Enhances RtPA-Fibrinolysis in a Porcine Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Catheter-based ultrasound-thrombolysis has been successfully used in a small clinical trial in order to enhance recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA)-fibrinolysis, for the treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). The aim of this study was to investigate the ultra-early effects of ultrasound on hematoma and the surrounding brain tissue in a porcine ICH-model. To achieve this, 21 pigs with a right frontal ICH were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) drainage (n = 3), (2) drainage + rtPA (n = 6), (3) drainage + ultrasound (n = 6), and (4) drainage + ultrasound + rtPA (n = 6). The hematoma volume assessment was performed using cranial MRI before and after the treat…

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…

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…

NCOG-10. FACTORS INFLUENCING NEUROCOGNITIVE FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROEPITHELIAL TUMORS

Though cognitive function is proven to be an independent predictor of survival in patients with intrinsic brain tumors, higher cognitive functions are still seldom studied. Aim of this study was to assess neurocognitive function and to identify risk factors for neurocognitive deficits in patients with intrinsic brain tumors. 103 patients with primary neuroepithelial tumors who received tumor resections or biopsies were included in this prospective study. The following data was acquired: mini-mental state examination, preoperative tumor volume, WHO grade, tumor entity and location, and the Karnofsky performance status scale. Furthermore, patients conducted an extensive neuropsychological tes…

In Reply to the Letter to the Editor: “Comparing the Volume of Brain Metastases in F-18-FET-PET and MRI”

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…

Risk Stratification by nrTMS Language Mapping

Resecting language-eloquent brain lesions is a major challenge in neurosurgery since we need to weight the risks of worsening the patients’ functional integrity and achieving a maximum safe resection. Although relevant functional brain structures can be identified intraoperatively by direct cortical mapping during awake surgery, a preoperative identification of functional anatomy is recommended in order to gauge surgical risks, evaluate resectability, plan the surgical approach, and identify potential starting points for intraoperative stimulation mapping.

The Influence of Oxidative Stress on Neurological Outcomes in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes, besides the primary brain injury, a secondary brain injury (SBI), which is induced, amongst other things, by oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation, determining the patient’s outcome. This study aims to assess the impact of OS in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on clinical outcomes in patients with ICH. A total of 19 ICH (volume &gt

Pharmacological Neuroenhancement, Perceived Stress, and Resilience in Spine Surgeons–A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background Spine surgeons are usually exposed to high workload and demanding work conditions. Although the relationship between pharmacological neuroenhancement (PNE) and resilience (i.e., the ability to recover from stress), as well as perceived stress and resilience-enhancing factors, has been investigated in the general population, less is known about the impact of those factors in spine surgeons. This study aimed to close that gap by investigating the relationship between PNE use and resilience, perceived stress, or resilience-enhancing factors in spine surgeons. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a sample of 582 spine surgeons in German-speaking countries (Austria, German…

Maintenance of Integrity of Upper Facet Joints during Simulated Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Insertion Using 2D versus 3D Planning

Background No studies have directly and quantitatively compared two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) planning as applied during conventional percutaneous or navigated percutaneous pedicle screw placement. Study Aims This lumbar pedicle-based stabilization simulation study aimed to investigate the risk of upper facet joint violation (FJV) during posterior percutaneous pedicle screw placement with conventional 2D planning of screw implantation (as a model for fluoroscopically guided screws) compared with 3D planning (as used with navigation techniques). Methods The placement of monosegmental lumbar pedicle screws using the data sets of 250 consecutive patients was simulated. Conve…

Operative Anatomy of the Skull Base: 3D Exploration with a Highly Detailed Interactive Atlas.

Abstract Objective We evaluated the usefulness of a three-dimensional (3D) interactive atlas to illustrate and teach surgical skull base anatomy in a clinical setting. Study Design A highly detailed atlas of the adult human skull base was created from multiple high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans of a healthy Caucasian male. It includes the parcellated and labeled bony skull base, intra- and extracranial vasculature, cranial nerves, cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. We are reporting retrospectively on our experiences with employing the atlas for the simulation and teaching of neurosurgical approaches and concepts in a clinical setting. Setti…

Comparative analysis of fibrinolytic properties of Alteplase, Tenecteplase and Urokinase in an in vitro clot model of intracerebral haemorrhage.

Abstract Objective Hematoma lysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) has emerged as an alternative therapy for spontaneous intracerebral and intraventricular haemorrhage (ICH and IVH). However, the MISTIE III and CLEAR III trial failed to show significant improvement of favourable outcomes. Besides experimental and clinical trials revealed neurotoxic effects of rtPA. The demand for optimization of fibrinolytic therapy persists. Herein, we used our recently devised clot model of ICH to systematically analyse fibrinolytic properties of rtPA, tenecteplase and urokinase. Methods In vitro clots of human blood (size: 25 ml and 50 ml; age: 1.5 tenecteplase, 24 tenecteplase and 48…

Cervical Motion Preserving Procedures (TDR)

Symptomatic cervical degenerative disc disease leading to radiculopathy is a common problem with an incidence of 0.83–1.79 per 1.000 person years. While many episodes of radicular symptoms can be successfully managed by conservative therapy, patients with refractory symptoms or a significant paresis are candidates for a surgical treatment. However, different surgical techniques are available to treat cervical degenerative disc disease, as anterior cervical discectomy without fusion, anterior cervical discectomy with fusion or posterior foraminotomy. Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion as described in the 1960’s (Chap. 3) is currently regarded as the gold standard. Although ACDF provide…

Tentorial Incision vs. Retraction of the Tentorial Edge during the Subtemporal Approach: Anatomical Comparison in Cadaveric Dissections and Retrospective Clinical Case Series.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to compare tentorial incision (group A) versus retraction and tack up suture (group B) of the tentorial edge during the subtemporal approach for surgery in the high basilar region. Design 24 cadaveric dissections and 4 clinical cases of aneurysms of the high basilar region are presented. Assessment included visibility and operability afforded by either tentorial incision creating a dural flap (group A) or retraction of the tentorial edge and tethering with a suture (group B). Four patients, two with superior cerebellar artery aneurysms and two with proximal posterior cerebral artery aneurysms were treated with each approach. Results In the quanti…

PERSONALITY TRAITS IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROEPITHELIAL TUMORS - A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract Aim of this study was to analyze personality traits in patients with neuroepithelial brain tumors. Personality alteration is a common feature in brain tumor patients, but not much is known about associations between specific personality changes and brain tumors. We assessed potential factors influencing personality such as tumor location, tumor grade and tumor volume. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Beck’s Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) for the five factors of personality were acquired. Patients had lower scores regarding the factor openness and higher scores regarding the BDI-II compared to the norm population. No significant in…

Indication Variability in Degenerative Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Four-nation Survey.

Electronic survey.The aim of this study was to identify the international nuances in surgical treatment patterns for severals lumbar degenerative conditions, specifically, to identify differences in responses in each country groupand different treatment trends across countries.Significant variations in treatment of lumbar degenerative conditions exist among spine surgeons, related to the lack of established consensus in the literature.An online survey with preformulated answers was submitted to 52 orthopedic surgeons, 50 neurosurgeons from four different countries (United States, France, Spain, and Germany) regarding five vignette-cases. Cases included: multilevel stenosis, monolevel stenos…

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…

NCOG-03. PERSONALITY TRAITS IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROEPITHELIAL TUMORS – A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Aim of this study was to analyze personality traits in patients with neuroepithelial brain tumors. Personality alteration is a common feature in brain tumor patients, but not much is known about associations between specific personality changes and brain tumors. We assessed potential factors influencing personality such as tumor location, tumor grade and tumor volume and compared them with neuropsychological tests. 73 patients with intrinsic brain tumors were included in this prospective study. Pre- and postoperatively and 3 and 9 months after surgery, the following data were acquired: mini-mental state examination (MMSE), short form health survey (SF-36), Beck’s Depression Inventory II (BD…

Positioning of the Patient and Related Complications

Optimal positioning of patients for spine surgery is crucial for ideal surgical conditions and operative-site exposure. During surgery of the spine patients are placed in non-physiological conditions already in anesthesia which lead to complications as patients are not able react to an unpleasant tissue damaging position. The factors duration of a surgical procedure, mechanical pressure and immobility increase the risk for positioning related complications and rare complications such as postoperative visual loss (POVL) or perioperative peripheral nerve injury (PPNI) result in significant patient disability and functional restrictions.

BIOM-08. DNA METHYLATION-BASED SUBGROUPING PREDICTS SURVIVAL BENEFIT FROM LOMUSTINE/TEMOZOLOMID COMBINATION THERAPY IN MGMT PROMOTOR-METHYLATED GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND The CeTeG/NOA-09 trial showed that lomustine/temozolomide chemotherapy prolongs survival for newly diagnosed MGMT-methylated glioblastoma patients. Previous reports on temozolomide monotherapy suggested, that the survival benefit of temozolomide in MGMT-methylated tumors may be restricted to the RTK II methylation subgroup and absent in RTK I and MES subgroups. To identify patients with a particularly strong benefit from CCNU/TMZ, we explored the association of methylation subgroups with outcome after lomustine/temozolomide therapy. METHODS All patients from the CeTeG/NOA-09 trial with sufficiently available tumor tissue (n = 98) underwent 850K methylation array analysis…

Posterior ‘Motion Preserving’ Procedures (Frykholm)

Cervical radiculopathy from degenerative disease is a common problem with an incidence of 0.83–1.79 per 1000 person years. It can be caused by a cervical disc herniation, bony foraminal stenosis or spinal canal stenosis. Upon failure of conservative therapy or a significant motor deficit surgical treatment is indicated. A posterior cervical foraminotomy is one surgical option for the treatment of selected patients with lateral cervical disc herniations.

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…

Revision Rate of Misplaced Pedicle Screws of the Thoracolumbar Spine-Comparison of Three-Dimensional Fluoroscopy Navigation with Freehand Placement: A Systematic Analysis and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown higher accuracy rates of image-guided pedicle screw placement compared to freehand (FH) placement. However, data focusing on the impact of spinal navigation on the rate of revision surgeries caused by misplaced pedicle screws (PS) are scarce. OBJECTIVE This study is aimed at identifying the rate of revision surgeries for misplaced PS comparing three-dimensional (3D) fluoroscopy navigation (3DFL) with FH PS placement. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted of 2232 patients (mean age, 65.3 ± 13.5 years) with 13,703 implanted PS who underwent instrumentation of the thoracolumbar spine between 2007 and 2015. Group 1 received surgery with use of 3DFL …

Involuntary ambulatory triage during the COVID-19 pandemic – A neurosurgical perspective

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to health-care systems around the world. As approximately one-third of the world´s population is living under "lockdown" conditions, medical resources are being reallocated and hospital admissions are limited to emergencies. We examined the decision-making impact of these actions and their effects on access to hospital treatment in patients with neurosurgical conditions.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzes hospital admissions of two major neurosurgical services in Germany during the nationwide lockdown period (March 16th to April 16th, 2020). Spinal or cranial conditions requiring immediat…

Quantitative assessment and localization of the hollowing of the temple after craniectomy and cranioplasty–The frontozygomatic shadow

Background After cranioplasty, in many cases a not negligible soft tissue defect remains in the temporozygomatical area, also referred to as a hollowing defect of the temple. Objective To assess the precise localization and volume of the hollowing defect, to optimize future cranioplasties. Methods CT data of patients who received craniectomy and conventional CAD cranioplasty in our institution between 2012 and 2018 were analyzed. CT datasets prior to craniectomy and after cranioplasty were subtracted to quantify the volume and localization of the defect. Results Out of 91 patients, 21 had suitable datasets. Five cases had good cosmetic results with no defect visible, 16 patients had an app…

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 …

Technical Execution of Correction Osteotomies (SPO, PSO, etc.)

Spinal osteotomies are gaining increasing importance and utilization during recent years. Several factors contribute to this increase. This chapter aims to provide an overview on the classification and execution of osteotomies for deformity correction.

Novel Biodegradable Composite of Calcium Phosphate Cement and the Collagen I Mimetic P-15 for Pedicle Screw Augmentation in Osteoporotic Bone

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures often necessitate fusion surgery, with high rates of implant failure. We present a novel bioactive composite of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and the collagen I mimetic P-15 for pedicle screw augmentation in osteoporotic bone. Methods involved expression analysis of osteogenesis-related genes during osteoblastic differentiation by RT-PCR and immunostaining of osteopontin and Ca2+ deposits. Untreated and decalcified sheep vertebrae were utilized for linear pullout testing of pedicle screws. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Expression of ALPI II (p &lt

Analysis of Cerebral Vasospasm in a Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with High Frequency Transcranial Duplex Ultrasound

Cerebral vasospasm that occurs in the weeks after subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of hemorrhagic stroke, contributes to delayed cerebral ischemia. A problem encountered in experimental studies using murine models of SAH is that methods for in vivo monitoring of cerebral vasospasm in mice are lacking. Here, we demonstrate the application of high frequency ultrasound to perform transcranial Duplex sonography examinations on mice. Using the method, the internal carotid arteries (ICA) could be identified. The blood flow velocities in the intracranial ICAs were accelerated significantly after induction of SAH, while blood flow velocities in the extracranial ICAs remained low, indicating cerebral…

Anterior Cervical Subaxial Treatment (Fusion)

Cervical radiculopathy caused by a soft disc herniation or a foraminal stenosis is a common problem. While symptoms from soft disc herniations have high chances to recover after conservative therapy persisting radicular pain or a neurological deficit are accepted as an indication for surgical treatment. The surgical technique regarded as gold standard for cervical radiculopathy due to a disc herniation or foraminal stenosis is an anterior cervical discectomy followed by fusion. The chapter will outline the indications for anterior cervical discectomy, the clinical and radiographic results as well as the potential complications and secondary problems.

TMIC-49. POTASSIUM CHANNEL KIR4.1 AND GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE ARE DYSREGULATED IN GLIOMA

The potassium channel KIR4.1 (KCNJ10) and the glutamate catalyzing enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) are highly expressed in glial cells of the central nervous system. Both glial proteins play important roles in the maintenance of neuronal activity and neurotransmission. Dysfunction of both proteins can result in altered neuronal excitability and may lead to excitotoxicity. We analyzed 35 snap frozen tissue blocks (glioblastoma [GBM], n=22; low grade astrocytoma (LGA), n=8; oligodendroglioma (OG), n=3; oligoastrocytoma, n=2). All glioma samples had a matching tissue specimen from both the tumor core and the adjacent normal-appearing infiltration zone. Molecular subtyping (MGMT, IDH1/2, 1p/19…

Systematic Analysis of Combined Thrombolysis Using Ultrasound and Different Fibrinolytic Drugs in an in Vitro Clot Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Adequate removal of blood clots by minimally invasive surgery seems to correlate with a better clinical outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs). Moreover, neurotoxic effects of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator have been reported. The aim of this study was to improve fibrinolysis using an intra-clot ultrasound application with tenecteplase and urokinase in our established ICH clot model. One hundred thirty clots were produced from 25 or 50 mL of human blood, incubated for different periods and equipped with drainage, through which an ultrasound catheter was placed in 65 treatment clots for 1 h, randomly allocated into three groups: administration of ultrasound, admi…

Multicolor 3D Printing of Complex Intracranial Tumors in Neurosurgery.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies offer the possibility of visualizing patient-specific pathologies in a physical model of correct dimensions. The model can be used for planning and simulating critical steps of a surgical approach. Therefore, it is important that anatomical structures such as blood vessels inside a tumor can be printed to be colored not only on their surface, but throughout their whole volume. During simulation this allows for the removal of certain parts (e.g., with a high-speed drill) and revealing internally located structures of a different color. Thus, diagnostic information from various imaging modalities (e.g., CT, MRI) can be combined in a single compact …

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…

Classification of orbital exenteration and reconstruction

Orbital exenteration (OE) is considered to be a mutilating surgical procedure reserved for relentlessly progressive neoplastic disorders or extensive facial trauma with unfavourable eye involvement. Malignant tumours, accounting for the majority of ablative orbital surgeries, may be caused by primary orbital tumours or secondarily by neoplasias from the surrounding skin, the maxillary sinus or intracranial malignomas. Orbital exenteration following trauma is mostly caused by penetrating globe defects or extended infections with the danger of intracranial effects. Thoughtful resection planning, the exploitation of reconstructive possibilities as well as the consideration of adjuvant therapy …

Spinal ependymoma in adults: a multicenter investigation of surgical outcome and progression-free survival

OBJECTIVESpinal ependymomas are rare glial neoplasms. Because their incidence is low, only a few larger studies have investigated this condition. There are no clear data concerning prognosis and therapy. The aim of the study was to describe the natural history, perioperative clinical course, and local tumor control of adult patients with spinal ependymomas who were surgically treated under modern treatment standards.METHODSThe authors performed a multicenter retrospective study. They identified 158 adult patients with spinal ependymomas who had received surgical treatment between January 2006 and June 2013. The authors analyzed the clinical and histological aspects of these cases to identif…

Caliper navigation for craniotomy planning of convexity targets.

Introduction A technique to localize a radiological target on the head convexity fast and with acceptable precision is sufficient for surgeries of superficial intracranial lesions, and of help in the setting of emergency surgery, computer navigation breakdown, limited resources and education. We present a caliper technique based on fundamental geometry, with inexpensive and globally available tools (conventional CT or MRI image viewer, calculator, caliper). Methods The distances of the radiological target from two landmarks (nasion and porus acusticus externus) are assessed with an image viewer and Pythagoras’ theorem. The two distances are then marked around the landmarks onto the head of…

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…

ACTR-58. PHASE III TRIAL OF CCNU/TEMOZOLOMIDE (TMZ) COMBINATION THERAPY VS. STANDARD TMZ THERAPY FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED MGMT-METHYLATED GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS: THE CeTeg/NOA-09 trial

There is an urgent need for more effective therapies in glioblastoma (GBM). Data from the single arm UKT-03 trial (Glas et al., J Clin Oncol 27, 1257, 2009) suggested that combined lomustine/temozolomide (CCNU/TMZ) therapy might have superior activity in MGMT-methylated GBM. The phase III CeTeG/NOA-09 trial was set up to test this hypothesis in a randomized setting. Patients with MGMT-methylated GBM were randomized (1:1) for standard therapy with daily TMZ (75 mg/m2) during local radiotherapy (RT, 30 x 2 Gy) followed by 6 courses of TMZ (150–200 mg/m2/day for 5 days q4w) or experimental therapy with CCNU/TMZ in addition to local RT. Six 6-week courses of CCNU/TMZ (CCNU 100 mg/m2 d1, TMZ 100…

Computed Tomography Findings Associated with Clinical Outcome After Dynamic Posterior Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine.

Objective To evaluate whether preoperative multirow detector computed tomography (MDCT) findings were associated with clinical outcome 24 months after dynamic stabilization for painful degenerative lumbar spine disease. Methods Preoperative MDCT examinations of 63 patients (66 ± 11.7 years; 60% women) treated with a dynamic screw rod system for painful degenerative segmental instability with/without spinal stenosis were assessed for quantitative and qualitative parameters defining degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, including grades of disc herniation, degenerative spondylolisthesis, vertebral body sclerosis, cross-sectional area of the spinal canal at disc level, intervertebra…

Intratumoral Heterogeneity and Longitudinal Changes in Gene Expression Predict Differential Drug Sensitivity in Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioblastoma.

Background: Inevitable recurrence after radiochemotherapy is the major problem in the treatment of glioblastoma, the most prevalent type of adult brain malignancy. Glioblastomas are notorious for a high degree of intratumor heterogeneity manifest through a diversity of cell types and molecular patterns. The current paradigm of understanding glioblastoma recurrence is that cytotoxic therapy fails to target effectively glioma stem cells. Recent advances indicate that therapy-driven molecular evolution is a fundamental trait associated with glioblastoma recurrence. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that intratumor heterogeneity, longitudinal changes in molecular biomarkers and spe…

Can Early Postoperative O-(2-18FFluoroethyl)-l-Tyrosine Positron Emission Tomography After Resection of Glioblastoma Predict the Location of Later Tumor Recurrence?

Objective Glioblastoma inevitably recurs despite aggressive therapy. Therefore, it would be helpful to predict the location of tumor recurrence from postoperative imaging to customize further treatment. O-(2-18Ffluoroethyl)- l -tyrosine (FET) positron emission tomography (PET) might be a helpful technique, because tumor tissue can be differentiated from normal brain tissue with high specificity. Methods Thirty-two consecutive patients with perioperative and follow-up imaging data available were included. On postoperative FET-PET, the tumor/normal brain (TTB) ratio around the resection cavity borders was measured. Increased TTB ratios were recorded and anatomically correlated with the site o…

Lomustine-temozolomide combination therapy versus standard temozolomide therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter (CeTeG/NOA–09): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial

Summary Background There is an urgent need for more effective therapies for glioblastoma. Data from a previous unrandomised phase 2 trial suggested that lomustine-temozolomide plus radiotherapy might be superior to temozolomide chemoradiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylation of the MGMT promoter. In the CeTeG/NOA-09 trial, we aimed to further investigate the effect of lomustine-temozolomide therapy in the setting of a randomised phase 3 trial. Methods In this open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial, we enrolled patients from 17 German university hospitals who were aged 18–70 years, with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter, and a Karnofsky Performance …