Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma and glioblastoma multiforme coexistence: Double primary malignancy, does it have a causal relationship?

Background: Multiple primary malignancies (MPMs), especially coexistence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are rare. The most likely clinical diagnosis in patient with tumor in another organ is metastatic brain tumor. Although GBM is the most common brain tumor, it is rarely coexistent with other malignancies. Case Description: A 64-year-old female presented with headache and dizziness, along with abdominal pain for 2 weeks before being admitted. The abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a kidney tumor. The patient developed left hemiplegia, and the brain CT scan showed an intracranial tumor. The patient suggested for radical nephrectomy and craniotomy tumor removal. Histopathology of the kidney and brain tumor revealed two different features, which showed RCC and GBM. Immunohistochemistry result confirmed the diagnosis of GBM and IDH1 wild type; coexistent with clear cell RCC. Conclusion: The coexistence of carcinoma and glioma should be regarded as coincidental cases if it did not accomplish the criteria for tumor-to-tumor metastasis or proven to be a genetic syndrome. This case report provides an addition to the literature about double primary malignancy in a single patient. More studies are needed to confirm whether they have causal relationship or merely coincidental findings.

Remote extradural hematoma as a complication of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: A case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The sellar region is one of the most areas to access in skull base surgery. The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach is a minimally invasive technique developed to create a clear trajectory to the sellar region through the sellar floor. Conversely, this area is surrounded by major intracranial vessels and multiple cranial nerves, hence, every surgical procedure to access this area carries dangerous complications, including hematoma. Remote extradural hematoma is an extremely rare complication following the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, and the pathogenesis has not been elucidated. CASE PRESENTATION: This study reported a case of 38-years old female suffered from chronic cephalgia and bilateral vision loss since one year ago. Further neuroimaging examination showed solid extra-axial mass, suggesting pituitary adenoma. Laboratory result showed increased Prolactin (216,2 ng/dl) with no other hormonal disturbance. Urgent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery was planned to excise the tumor. Post-operative CT showed acute right frontal extradural hematoma, in which the patient was planned to have immediate surgery afterwards. DISCUSSION: The specific mechanism of developing EDH post-surgery is unknown because it is an unusual consequence of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. Rapid CSF draining during surgery may have led to the formation of a remote extradural hematoma in our patient. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery also carries the potential risk of remote extradural hematoma, careful steps must be taken to prevent this serious complication during transsphenoidal surgery.

Modified Transpetrosal-Transtentorial Approach for Resection of Large and Giant Petroclival Meningioma: Technical Nuance and Surgical Experiences.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas arising from the petroclival area remain a challenge for neurosurgeons. Various approaches have been proposed to achieve maximum resection with minimal morbidity and mortality. Also, some articles correlated preservation of adjacent veins with less neurologic deficits. OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences in using a new technique to achieve maximal resection of petroclival meningiomas and preserving the superior petrosal veins (SPVs) and the superior petrosal sinus (SPS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 26 patients harboring a true petroclival meningioma with a diameter ≥25 mm and undergoing surgery with the modified transpetrosal-transtentorial approach (MTTA) was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent of 22 patients complained of severe headache at presentation. There was also complaint of cranial nerve (CN) deficit, with CN VII deficit being the most common (present in 42% of patients). The average tumor size (measured as maximum diameter) was 45.2 mm, and most of the tumors compressed the brainstem. Total resection was achieved in 12 patients (46.2%), whereas the others were excised subtotally (54.8%). Most of the patients had WHO grade I (96.1%) meningioma; only one had a grade II (3.8%) meningioma. In addition, clinical improvement and persistence of symptoms were observed in 17 (65.4%) and 8 (30.7%) patients, respectively, and postoperative permanent CN injury was observed in 3 (11.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: Using the MTTA, maximal resection with preservation of the CNs and neurovascular SPV-SPS complex can be achieved. Therefore, further studies and improvements of the technique are required to increase the total resection rate without neglecting the complications that may develop postoperatively.

Deadly complication of sacrificing superior petrosal vein during cerebellopontine angle tumor resection: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are challenging to resect and have been proven difficult for neurosurgeons to manage optimally. Superior petrosal vein complex (SPVC) as the main drainage system and close proximity to CPA could be an obstacle during operation. There is an incidence ranging from 55% to 84% of injury to one part of the SPVC during CPA tumor surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of 65-year-old woman with CPA tumor, who complained of unilateral hearing loss, dizziness, and facial pain. During tumor resection, one part of SPV complex was injured, then cerebellar edema develops. CONCLUSION: This case provides an overview of surgical complication associated with venous sacrifice. This would support the agreement to preserve SPV regarding risks and improve the quality of surgical decision making.

Tranexamic acid to reduce operative blood loss in brain tumor surgery: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Major blood loss during neurosurgery may result in a variety of complications, such as potentially fatal hemodynamic instability. Brain tumor and skull base surgery is among the high bleeding risk procedures. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been found to reduce bleeding events in various fields of medicine. METHODS: We searched for all randomized controlled trials published in English or Bahasa which compared the use of TXA with placebo in brain tumor surgery. The studies should include adult patients with intracranial tumor who received TXA before skin incision. The primary and secondary outcomes are intraoperative blood loss and the need of transfusion. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included a total of 200 patients from three studies. TXA resulted in less blood loss with pooled mean difference of -292.80 (95% CI, -431.63, -153.96, P<0.05). The need of transfusion was not significant between TXA and control group (pooled mean difference -85.36, 95% CI, -213.23 - (42.51), P=0.19). CONCLUSION: TXA reduced the volume of blood loss but did not reduce the need of blood transfusion.

Lifesaving Decompressive Craniectomy for High Intracranial Pressure Attributed to Deep-Seated Meningioma: Emergency Management.

OBJECTS: As the most common intracranial extra-axial tumor among adults who tend to grow slowly with minimal clinical manifestation, the patients with meningioma could also fall in neurological emergency and even life-threatening status due to high intracranial pressure (ICP). In those circumstances, decompressive craniectomy (DC) without definitive tumor resection might offer an alternative treatment to alleviate acute increasing of ICP. The current report defines criteria for the indications of lifesaving DC for high ICP caused by deep-seated meningioma as an emergency management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study collected the candidates from 2012 to 2018 at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. The sample included all meningioma patients who came to our ER who fulfilled the clinical (life-threatening decrease in Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS]) and radiography (deep-seated meningioma, midline shift in brain computed tomography [CT] >0.5 cm, and diameter of tumor >4 cm or tumor that involves the temporal lobe) criteria for emergency DC as a lifesaving procedure. GCS, midline shift, tumor diameter, and volume based on CT were evaluated before DC. Immediate postoperative GCS, time to tumor resection, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were also assessed postoperation. RESULTS: The study enrolled 14 patients, with an average preoperative GCS being 9.29 ± 1.38, whereas the mean midline shift was 15.84 ± 7.02 mm. The average of number of tumor's diameter and volume was 5.59 ± 1.44 cm and 66.76 ± 49.44 cc, respectively. Postoperation, the average time interval between DC and definitive tumor resection surgery was 5.07 ± 3.12 days. The average immediate of GCS postoperation was 10.07 ± 2.97, and the average GOS was 3.93 ± 1.27. CONCLUSION: When emergency tumor resection could not be performed due to some limitation, as in developing countries, DC without tumor resection possibly offers lifesaving procedure in order to alleviate acute increasing ICP before the definitive surgical procedure is carried out. DC might also prevent a higher risk of morbidity and postoperative complications caused by peritumoral brain edema.

Dural incision in the petrosal approach with preservation of the superior petrosal vein.

The petrosal approach has been applied for the treatment of many lesions in the posterior fossa, but the location and preservation of the superior petrosal veins (SPVs) during this approach are usually not particularly considered. The authors developed a technique of dural incision with special consideration of the location of the SPVto preserve venous flow during the petrosal approach. The authors describe technical details on how to cut the dura mater and superior petrosal sinus, with special attention to the location of SPV, so that the normal flow of the SPV to the lateral sinus can be preserved. Between July 2007 and March 2014, this technique was used in 45 patients, and no major complications were reported. The SPVs should be considered critical structures in the petrosal approach. Preoperative evaluation of the SPV anatomy should be performed in patients undergoing such surgical treatment, and the dural opening must be performed with special attention to the SPVto avoid intraoperative injury and postoperative complications.