Association of 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence guided resection with photodynamic therapy in recurrent glioblastoma: a matched cohort study.

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma is a malignant and aggressive brain tumour that, although there have been improvements in the first line treatment, there is still no consensus regarding the best standard of care (SOC) upon its inevitable recurrence. There are novel adjuvant therapies that aim to improve local disease control. Nowadays, the association of intraoperative photodynamic therapy (PDT) immediately after a 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence-guided resection (FGR) in malignant gliomas surgery has emerged as a potential and feasible strategy to increase the extent of safe resection and destroy residual tumour in the surgical cavity borders, respectively. OBJECTIVES: To assess the survival rates and safety of the association of intraoperative PDT with 5-ALA FGR, in comparison with a 5-ALA FGR alone, in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. METHODS: This article describes a matched-pair cohort study with two groups of patients submitted to 5-ALA FGR for recurrent glioblastoma. Group 1 was a prospective series of 11 consecutive cases submitted to 5-ALA FGR plus intraoperative PDT; group 2 was a historical series of 11 consecutive cases submitted to 5-ALA FGR alone. Age, sex, Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), 5-ALA post-resection status, T1-contrast-enhanced extent of resection (EOR), previous and post pathology, IDH (Isocitrate dehydrogenase), Ki67, previous and post treatment, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) controls and surgical complications were documented. RESULTS: The Mantel-Cox test showed a significant difference between the survival rates (p = 0.008) of both groups. 4 postoperative complications occurred (36.6%) in each group. As of the last follow-up (January 2024), 7/11 patients in group 1, and 0/11 patients in group 2 were still alive. 6- and 12-months post-treatment, a survival proportion of 71,59% and 57,27% is expected in group 1, versus 45,45% and 9,09% in group 2, respectively. 6 months post-treatment, a progression free survival (PFS) of 61,36% and 18,18% is expected in group 1 and group 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The association of PDT immediately after 5-ALA FGR for recurrent malignant glioma seems to be associated with better survival without additional or severe morbidity. Despite the need for larger, randomized series, the proposed treatment is a feasible and safe addition to the reoperation.

Pharmaceutical equivalent 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence guided resection of central nervous system tumors: feasibility, safeness and cost-benefit considerations.

PURPOSE: 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence-guided resection (FGR) has been an essential tool in the 'standard of care' of malignant gliomas. Over the last two decades, its indications have been extended to other neoplasms, such as metastases and meningiomas. However, its availability and cost-benefit still pose a challenge for widespread use. The present article reports a retrospective series of 707 cases of central nervous system (CNS) tumors submitted to FGR with pharmacological equivalent 5-ALA and discusses financial implications, feasibility and safeness. METHODS: From December 2015 to February 2024, a retrospective single institution series of 707 cases of 5-ALA FGR were analyzed. Age, gender, 5-ALA dosage, intraoperative fluorescence finding, diagnosis and adverse effects were recorded. Financial impact in the surgical treatment cost were also reported. RESULTS: there was an additional cost estimated in $300 dollars for each case, increasing from 2,37 to 3,28% of the total hospitalization cost. There were 19 (2,69%) cases of asymptomatic photosensitive reaction and 2 (0,28%) cases of photosensitive reaction requiring symptomatic treatment. 1 (0,14%) patient had a cutaneous rash sustained for up to 10 days. No other complications related to the method were evident. In 3 (0,42%) cases of patients with intracranial hypertension, there was vomiting after administration. CONCLUSION: FGR with pharmacological equivalent 5-ALA can be considered safe and efficient and incorporates a small increase in hospital expenses. It constitutes a reliable solution in avoiding prohibitive costs worldwide, especially in countries where commercial 5-ALA is unavailable.

Historical Aspects and Surgical Nuances on the Craniocervical Approach to the Jugular Foramen / Aspectos históricos e dicas do acesso craniocervical ao forame jugular

Context Tumors of the jugular foramen present a challenge to skull base surgeons. Their rarity, coupled with the complex anatomy of the region require exquisite knowledge and surgical technique. We present the history of the craniocervical approach to the jugular foramen, as well as surgical advice on how to manage the different extensions these tumors may present. The surgical nuances come from the experience of our skull base team managing over 150 tumors of the jugular foramen over the past 30 years. The history of the craniocervical approach was obtained by reviewing articles on surgery of the jugular foramen published on PUBMED over the past 100 years. History The first craniocervical approach may be attributed to Gardner et al. in 1891, with posterior contributions from Shapiro and Neues, Gejrot, Kempe et al, Hilding and Greenberg, and Glasscock. Nuances Cervical dissection with identification of the jugular vein, carotid bifurcation, and IX to XII cranial nerves was performed. Mastoidectomy with exposition of the fallopian canal, labyrinth, middle ear, sigmoid sinus, followed by a trans-sigmoid craniotomy with transposition of the vertebral artery gave access to the temporal and intracranial region. Conclusion Approaching the jugular foramen is the epitome of skull base surgery. Several modifications of the standard approach may be necessary depending on the extension of the tumor.

Contexto Os tumores do forame jugular apresentam um desafio para os cirurgiões da base do crânio. A sua raridade e a anatomia complexa da região requerem conhecimento específico da técnica cirúrgica. O presente manuscrito apresenta a história do acesso crâniocervical ao forame jugular, assim como dicas cirúrgicas para manejar as diferentes extensões que os tumores podem apresentar. As dicas são derivadas da experiência da nossa equipe em mais de 150 tumores do forame jugular nos últimos 30 anos. A história do acesso crâniocervical foi obtida da revisão de artigos em PUBMED dos últimos 100 anos. História A primeira abordagem craniocervical pode ser atribuída a Gardner et al. em 1891, com contribuições posteriores de Shapiro e Neues, Gejrot, Kempe et al, Hilding e Greenberg e Glasscock. Descrição A dissecção cervical necessita identificação da veia jugular, bifurcação carotídea, e dos nervos cranianos de IX a XII. A mastoidectomia com exposição do canal de falópio, labirinto, ouvido médio e seio sigmoide foi seguida por uma craniotomia transsigmoide com transposição da artéria vertebral, permitindo abordar a região temporal e intracraniana. Conclusão Acessar o forame jugular é o epítome da cirurgia da base do crânio. Múltiplas modificações do acesso tradicional podem ser necessárias dependendo da extensão do tumor.

Correlation of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Parameters and Outcomes in Patients with Intramedullary Tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) account for about 2%-4% of all central nervous system tumors. Surgical resection is the main treatment step, but might cause damage to functional tissues. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is an adopted measure to decrease surgical complications. Below, we describe the results of IMSCT submitted to surgery under IONM at a tertiary institution. METHODS: The sample consisted of consecutive patients with IMSCT admitted to the Neurological Institute of Curitiba from January 2007 to November 2016. A total of 47 patients were surgically treated. Twenty-three were male (48.9%) and 24 were female (51.1%). The mean age was 42.77 years. The mean follow-up time was 42.7 months. RESULTS: Neurological status improved in 29 patients (62%), stable in 6 (13%), and worse in 12 (25%). Patients who presented with motor symptoms at initial diagnosis had a worse outcome compared to patients with sensory impairment and pain (P = 0.026). Patients with a change in electromyography had worse neurological outcomes compared to patients who did not show changes in monitoring (P = 0.017). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: No prospective randomized high evidence study has been performed to date to compare clinical evolution after surgery with or without monitoring. In our sample, surgical resection was well succeeded mainly in oligosymptomatic patients with low preoperative McCormick classification and no worsening of IONM during surgery. We believe that microsurgical resection of IMSCT with simultaneous IONM is the gold standard treatment and achieved with good results.

Management of jugular bulb injury during retrosigmoid transmeatal resection of vestibular schwannoma.

Inadvertent laceration of the jugular bulb is a potentially serious complication of the retrosigmoid transmeatal approach to vestibular schwannomas. Here, the authors present the case of a 51-year-old woman with a right Hannover T4a vestibular schwannoma and bilateral high-riding jugular bulb, which was opened during drilling of the internal auditory canal (IAC). They highlight the immediate management of this complication, technical nuances for closing the defect without occluding the jugular bulb, and modifications of the standard technique needed to continue surgical resection. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.7.FOCVID2155.

Patterns of neuroaxis dissemination of gliomas: suggestion of a classification based on magnetic resonance imaging findings.

BACKGROUND: Local invasion is the hallmark of malignant glioma dissemination. Leptomeningeal dissemination, a serious complication of malignant gliomas, has been increasingly observed. To correlate the physiopathologic mechanisms and the magnetic resonance imaging patterns of neuroaxis dissemination, a classification of malignant glioma dissemination is proposed (Instituto de Neurologia de Curitiba Classification). METHODS: This classification includes the following patterns of dissemination: leptomeningeal (type I), nodular (type Ia), diffuse (type Ib); subependymal (type II); satellite (type IIIa, IIIb); and mixed (type IV), combination of 2 or more previous types. Of 138 patients with histologically confirmed gliomas treated between 2000 and 2004, 10 presented neuroaxis dissemination and were evaluated. RESULTS: The distribution of dissemination patterns was as follows: subependymal, 4 of 10; diffuse leptomeningeal, 1 of 10; nodular leptomeningeal, 1 of 10; and satellite, 4 of 10. Mean interval between primary tumor and dissemination was 4 months. The most frequent glioma dissemination risk factor was entering the ventricular system during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in our diagnostic imaging capabilities have contributed to a better understanding of the patterns of malignant glioma dissemination. Using this information, we present a useful classification scheme, applicable to patients with neuroaxis dissemination, which will help standardize future discussions aimed at understanding these patterns of tumor spread.

Meningiomas of the jugular foramen.

Primary meningiomas of the jugular foramen are extremely rare. There is controversy regarding the management of these tumors. The objective of this article is to analyze the treatment and results in a series of ten cases. From a series of 107 patients that had been operated on for jugular foramen tumors between 1987 and 2005, ten had meningiomas. The clinical, histological and imaging findings, as well as the outcome of these cases, were reviewed. A high incidence of malignant or aggressive tumors (six cases) was found. Gross total resection (Simpson I and II) was achieved in five patients. Four patients with meningotheliomatous meningiomas are alive, with a mean follow-up time of 71.8 months (6.5 years). Two patients (one with anaplastic type and one with papillary type) died in the immediate postoperative period. Four patients (two with papillary type, one with microcystic type and one with anaplastic type) died because of disease progression, with a mean survival time of 35 months. Radical removal of benign jugular foramen meningiomas is possible. The incidence of postoperative deficit of cranial nerves is higher than in other benign tumors of the jugular foramen. A high incidence of aggressive (malignant) tumors was observed in this series.

Reconstruction of the cranial base in surgery for jugular foramen tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical removal of a jugular foramen (JF) tumor presents the neurosurgeon with a complex management problem that requires an understanding of the natural history, diagnosis, surgical approaches, and postoperative complications. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is one of the most common complications of this surgery. Different surgical approaches and management concepts to avoid this complication have been described, mainly in the ear, nose, and throat literature. The purpose of this study was to review the results of CSF leakage prevention in a series of 66 patients with JF tumors operated on by a multidisciplinary cranial base team using a new technique for cranial base reconstruction. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 66 patients who had JF tumors with intracranial extension and who underwent surgical treatment in our institutions from January 1987 to December 2001. Paragangliomas were the most frequent lesions, followed by schwannomas and meningiomas. All patients were operated on using the same multidisciplinary surgical approach (neurosurgeons and ear, nose, and throat surgeons). A surgical strategy for reconstruction of the cranial base using vascularized flaps was carried out. The closure of the surgical wound was performed in three layers. A specially developed myofascial flap (temporalis fascia, cervical fascia, and sternocleidomastoid muscle) associated to the inferior rotation of the posterior portion of the temporalis muscle was used to reconstruct the cranial base with vascularized flaps. RESULTS: In this series of 66 patients, postoperative CSF leakage developed in three cases. These patients presented with very large or recurrent tumors, and the postoperative CSF fistulae were surgically closed. The cosmetic result obtained with this reconstruction was classified as excellent or good in all patients. CONCLUSION: Our results compare favorably with those reported in the literature. The surgical strategy used for cranial base reconstruction presented in this article has several advantages over the current surgical techniques used in cases of JF tumors.

Jugular foramen tumors: diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECT: Jugular foramen tumors are rare skull base lesions that present diagnostic and complex management problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a series of patients with jugular foramen tumors who were surgically treated in the past 16 years, and to analyze the surgical technique, complications, and outcomes. METHODS: The authors retrospectively studied 102 patients with jugular foramen tumors treated between January 1987 and May 2004. All patients underwent surgery with a multidisciplinary method combining neurosurgical and ear, nose, and throat techniques. Preoperative embolization was performed for paragangliomas and other highly vascularized lesions. To avoid postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and to improve cosmetic results, the surgical defect was reconstructed with specially developed vascularized flaps (temporalis fascia, cervical fascia, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and temporalis muscle). A saphenous graft bypass was used in two patients with tumor infiltrating the internal carotid artery (ICA). Facial nerve reconstruction was performed with grafts of the great auricular nerve or with 12th/seventh cranial nerve anastomosis. Residual malignant and invasive tumors were irradiated after partial removal. The most common tumor was paraganglioma (58 cases), followed by schwannomas (17 cases) and meningiomas (10 cases). Complete excision was possible in 45 patients (77.5%) with paragangliomas and in all patients with schwannomas. The most frequent and also the most dangerous surgical complication was lower cranial nerve deficit. This deficit occurred in 10 patients (10%), but it was transient in four cases. Postoperative facial and cochlear nerve paralysis occurred in eight patients (8%); spontaneous recovery occurred in three of them. In the remaining five patients the facial nerve was reconstructed using great auricular nerve grafts (three cases), sural nerve graft (one case), and hypoglossal/facial nerve anastomosis (one case). Four patients (4%) experienced postoperative CSF leakage, and four (4.2%) died after surgery. Two of them died of aspiration pneumonia complicated with septicemia. Of the remaining two, one died of pulmonary embolism and the other of cerebral hypoxia caused by a large cervical hematoma that led to tracheal deviation. CONCLUSIONS: Paragangliomas are the most common tumors of the jugular foramen region. Surgical management of jugular foramen tumors is complex and difficult. Radical removal of benign jugular foramen tumors is the treatment of choice, may be curative, and is achieved with low mortality and morbidity rates. Larger lesions can be radically excised in one surgical procedure by using a multidisciplinary approach. Reconstruction of the skull base with vascularized myofascial flaps reduces postoperative CSF leaks. Postoperative lower cranial nerves deficits are the most dangerous complication.