The Role of Adjunctive Therapy of Optic Pathway Glioma in Children

OBJECTIVE: This study is performed in order to compare the outcomes of surgical management and to define the role of adjunctive therapy in the management of optic pathway glioma in children. METHODS: Sixteen children with optic pathway glioma had been managed in various treatment methods during the last 8 years. The patients aged from 5 months to 14 years. The patients presented with progressive visual loss, increased ICP symptoms, endocrine dysfunction, seizure, and motor weakness. Optic pathway glioma associated with neurofibromatosis was excluded. Tumor involved chiasmatico-hypothalamus(12 patients), optic chiasm(3), and optic nerve(1). The extent of surgical resection were radical(3 patients), subtotal(12), and partial(1). RESULTS: Three patients treated with radical resection showed no evidence of tumor recurrence. Among 12 patients treated with subtotal resection and without adjunctive therapy, 6 patients(50%) developed recurrence in the postoperative period of average 20.5 months. Those patients with recurrence were managed by reoperation(3 patients), irradiation therapy(2), and chemotherapy(1). However three patients with residual tumors after subtotal(2), or partial(1) resection were treated with adjunctive chemotherapy in the postoperative period showed no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Although radical resection of optic pathway glioma might offer long-term control of tumor, adjunctive chemotherapy could be effective to prevent tumor recurrence in children with subtotally or partially resected optic pathway glioma. More experience is necessary to determine the optimal method of treatment of optic pathway gliomas in children.

Clinical Outcomes of Simultaneous Bilateral Pallidotomy in Advanced Parkinson's Disease

OBJECTIVE: Pallidotomy is known to improve the symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson, s disease (PD), motor fluctuations and dyskinesia related to levodopa therapy. Previous studies reported significantly higher complication rates associated with bilateral pallidotomy than unilateral pallidotomy. The authors assess the safety and clinical outcomes of bilateral pallidotomy for advanced PD. METHODS: Simultaneous bilateral pallidotomy was performed in eight patients with advanced PD between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001. All patients underwent lesion making in posteroventral site of internal globus pallidus. The target was localized using macroelectrode stimulation and MRI guided stereotactic technique. The lesions were made by radiofrequency currents. RESULTS: Among eight cases, seven had severe disabling dyskinesias. Compared with baseline scores, the values of dyskinesia after surgery was significantly decreased (P<0.05) for up to 1 year. The mean score changed from 4.4+/-2.1 to 0.3+/-0.5. According to Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the mean motor score in off period, which was 38.3+/-13.8 was significantly decreased for 6 months (P<0.05). The ADL (on/off) scores and motor "on" scores of UPDRS were unchanged or deteriorated to 12 months after surgery. There was no apparent adverse effect after surgery in all patients. Only transient mild dysphagia happened in one patient. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous bilateral pallidotomy in advanced PD appears to be effective and safe, particularly in reducing the dyskinesia; in our experience, the side effects are not as high as reported by other groups.