Preterm-related posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: Review of our institutional series with a long-term follow-up / Hidrocefalia poshemorrágica del prematuro: revisión de nuestra serie a largo plazo

Introduction Preterm-related posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus is a major cause of neurological impairment and a common indication for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in infants that are prone to diverse complications. Protocols of diagnosis and treatment are in continuous evolution and require evaluation of their results. Objective To review the clinical characteristics and results of a series of preterm-related posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus needing a definitive shunt from 1982 to 2020 in our institution. As a secondary objective we evaluated the safety of the changes in our protocol of treatment from 2015. Methods Retrospective review, clinical investigation. Results 133 patients were implanted a shunt in the study period. Shunt infection was diagnosed in 15 patients. Proximal shunt obstruction as the first complication was diagnosed in 30% of cases at one year, 37% at two years and 46% at five years. 61 patients developed very small or collapsed ventricles at last follow-up. Two thirds of our patients achieved normal neurological development or mild impairment. Changes in protocol did not significantly modify clinical results although improvement in most outcomes was observed. Mean follow-up was over nine years. Conclusions Clinical outcomes are comparable to previous reported data. Changes in protocol proved to be safe and improved our results. Programmable shunts can be used safely in preterm patients although they may not prevent tendency towards ventricular collapse, which is very common after long follow-up (AU)

Antecedentes La hidrocefalia poshemorrágica del prematuro continúa siendo una causa importante de lesión cerebral perinatal y una indicación frecuente de cirugía derivativa valvular en un grupo de pacientes particularmente vulnerable y expuesto a complicaciones. Los protocolos de diagnóstico y tratamiento están en continua evolución y requieren un análisis de los resultados asociados a ellos. Objetivo Revisar las características clínicas y los resultados de tratamiento en una serie de prematuros con hidrocefalia poshemorrágica en los que se implantó una derivación ventriculoperitoneal permanente en nuestro hospital entre 1982 y 2000. Como objetivo secundario evaluamos la seguridad de los cambios introducidos en nuestro protocolo desde 2015. Material y método Estudio clínico retrospectivo, serie de casos. Resultados 133 prematuros requirieron una derivación ventriculoperitoneal permanente en el tiempo de estudio. En 15 de ellos se diagnosticó una infección del sistema de derivación. La obstrucción proximal de la derivación como primera complicación posquirúrgica ocurrió en un 30% de los pacientes al primer año, en el 37% de los pacientes a los dos años y en el 46% de los casos a los 5 años de seguimiento. 61 pacientes desarrollaron un colapso ventricular clínico o radiológico. Dos tercios de los pacientes presentaron un desarrollo psicomotor normal o un retraso de carácter leve. Los cambios incorporados en nuestro protocolo de tratamiento no modificaron la evolución clínica significativamente, aunque se asociaron a una evolución globalmente más favorable. La media de seguimiento fue superior a los 9 años. Conclusiones Los resultados clínicos presentados se encuentran en línea con las series publicadas, Los cambios incorporados en nuestro protocolo actualizado demostraron ser seguros y pueden asociarse a una evolución más favorable (AU)

Preterm-related posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: Review of our institutional series with a long-term follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm-related posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus is a major cause of neurological impairment and a common indication for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in infants that are prone to diverse complications. Protocols of diagnosis and treatment are in continuous evolution and require evaluation of their results. OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical characteristics and results of a series of preterm-related posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus needing a definitive shunt from 1982 to 2020 in our institution. As a secondary objective we evaluated the safety of the changes in our protocol of treatment from 2015. METHODS: Retrospective review, clinical investigation. RESULTS: 133 patients were implanted a shunt in the study period. Shunt infection was diagnosed in 15 patients. Proximal shunt obstruction as the first complication was diagnosed in 30% of cases at one year, 37% at two years and 46% at five years. 61 patients developed very small or collapsed ventricles at last follow-up. Two thirds of our patients achieved normal neurological development or mild impairment. Changes in protocol did not significantly modify clinical results although improvement in most outcomes was observed. Mean follow-up was over nine years. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes are comparable to previous reported data. Changes in protocol proved to be safe and improved our results. Programmable shunts can be used safely in preterm patients although they may not prevent tendency towards ventricular collapse, which is very common after long follow-up.

Giant nasofrontal meningioma: endoscopic and transcranial approach followed by microvascularized vastus laterallis flap reconstruction.

A 12-year-old girl presented with headache, nasal voice, and anosmia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a 11 × 9 × 8-cm tumor extending from the nasal cavity to the frontal lobes. Histological analysis was consistent with transitional meningioma WHO grade I. As far as we know, this is the first reported case of a giant olfactory groove meningioma invading the nasal cavity through the anterior cranial base. Complete surgical removal was accomplished with excellent result via a staged endoscopic and transcranial approach. A microvascularized vastus laterallis flap was used for reconstruction. Surgical options and technical details in the management of this lesion are reviewed.

Is it time to consider the expression of specific-pituitary hormone genes when typifying pituitary tumours?

The aim of the present study is to check whether we can replicate, in an independent series, previous results showing that the molecular study of pituitary-specific gene expression complements the inmunohistochemical identification of pituitary neuroendocrine tumours. We selected 112 patients (51 (46.4%) women; mean age 51.4±16 years; 102 macroadenomas (91.9%), 9 microadenomas (8.1%)) with complete clinical, radiological, immunohistochemical and molecular data from our data set of pituitary neuroendocrine tumours. Patients were different from those previously studied. We measured the expression of the pituitary-specific hormone genes and type 1 corticotrophin-releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin 1b receptors, by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan probes. Afterwards, we identified the different pituitary neuroendocrine tumour subtypes following the 2017 World Health Organization classification of pituitary tumours, calculating the concordance between their molecular and immuhistochemical identification. The concordance between molecular and immunohistochemical identification of functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours with the clinical diagnosis was globally similar to the previous series, where the SYBR Green technique was used instead of TaqMan probes. Our results also corroborated the poor correlation between molecular and immunohistochemical detection of the silent pituitary neuroendocrine tumour variants. This discrepancy was more remarkable in lactotroph, null-cell and plurihormonal pituitary neuroendocrine tumours. In conclusion, this study validates the results previously published by our group, highlighting a complementary role for the molecular study of the pituitary-specific hormone genes in the typification of pituitary neuroendocrine tumours subtypes.

Posterior fossa clear cell meningioma without dural attachment in a child.

INTRODUCTION: Meningiomas are relatively uncommon in childhood. They represent 1% to 2% of all intracranial tumours of infancy and childhood and 1.5% to 1.8% of all intracranial meningiomas. Occasionally, meningiomas may develop without dural attachment. Clear cell meningioma is a histological distinctive uncommon variant of meningioma that may behave aggressively with local recurrence and progression as well as cerebrospinal fluid-borne metastasis. Meningiomas near the craniocervical junction represent challenging tumours, requiring special considerations because of the vicinity of the medulla oblongata, the lower cranial nerves and the vertebral artery. CASE REPORT: In this study, the authors present a rare case of posterior fossa clear cell meningioma without dural attachment in a child with severe brainstem and cervical spinal cord displacement and discuss the clinical and radiological features as well as treatment considerations.