Cost of medical care for malignant brain tumors at hospitals in the Japan Clinical Oncology Group brain-tumor study group.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate what treatment are selected for malignant brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma (GBM) and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), in real-world Japan and the costs involved. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey regarding treatment selections for newly diagnosed GBM and PCNSL treated between July 2021 and June 2022 among 47 institutions in the Japan Clinical Oncology Group-Brain Tumor Study Group. We calculated the total cost and cost per month of the initial therapy for newly diagnosed GBM or PCNSL. RESULTS: The most used regimen (46.8%) for GBM in patients aged ≤74 years was 'Surgery + radiotherapy concomitant with temozolomide'. This regimen's total cost was 7.50 million JPY (Japanese yen). Adding carmustine wafer implantation (used in 15.0%), TTFields (used in 14.1%), and bevacizumab (BEV) (used in 14.5%) to the standard treatment of GBM increased the cost by 1.24 million JPY for initial treatment, and 1.44 and 0.22 million JPY per month, respectively. Regarding PCNSL, 'Surgery (biopsy) + rituximab, methotrexate, procarbazine, and vincristine (R-MPV) therapy' was the most used regimen (42.5%) for patients of all ages. This regimen incurred 1.07 million JPY per month. The three PCNSL regimens based on R-MPV therapy were in ultra-high-cost medical care (exceeding 1 million JPY per month). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of malignant brain tumors is generally expensive, and cost-ineffective treatments such as BEV are frequently used. We believe that the results of this study can be used to design future economic health studies examining the cost-effectiveness of malignant brain tumors.

Efficacy of transarterial embolization using intermittent flow control for tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula presenting as myelopathy: a technical report.

BACKGROUND: Transarterial embolization (TAE) is generally the endovascular treatment of choice for tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF). Although flow control of the feeder vessel has been reported to achieve complete shunt blockade, flow control in the absence of ischemia tolerance of ICA as a feeder has not been reported. we present a case in which treatment by Onyx TAE with intermittent flow control of the meningohypophyseal trunk (MHT) as the feeder was successful for a tentorial dAVF presenting with myelopathy without tolerance of ischemia. METHODS: The intermittent flow control is presented for a tentorial dAVF presenting with myelopathy without tolerance for ischemia. An inflation of the balloon in the internal carotid artery was set for 5 minutes, and the Onyx injection was repeated at intervals of at least 2 minutes. Injections and pauses were repeated to allow Onyx to reach the shunt pouch. RESULTS: The patient underwent successful TAE with intermittent flow control for a tentorial dAVF presenting with myelopathy. The disappearance of the shunt was confirmed with gait disturbance resolution postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Intermittent flow control of the MHT using a balloon may be safe and effective for cases showing no tolerance for ischemia.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring for the Lower-Extremity Region Using Motor-Evoked Potential With Direct Cortical Stimulation in Brain Tumor Surgeries.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the motor function of the lower extremity (LE), we used direct cortical stimulation motor-evoked potential (D-MEP) monitoring with a single six-contact subdural strip electrode placed in the interhemispheric fissure. METHODS: Intraoperative neuromonitoring using D-MEPs in the LE was performed in 18 cases (16 patients) for brain tumor surgery from December 2018 to April 2023 with a follow-up period of at least 3 months. After dural opening, a single six-contact subdural strip electrode was placed inside the interhemispheric fissure. To identify the central sulcus, phase reversal was recorded using somatosensory evoked potentials. Next, direct cortical stimulation was applied to the primary motor cortex. The baseline waveform was defined as a reproducible waveform of 30 µV or higher, and a significant decrease of ≥50% in the amplitude resulted in a warning during surgery. RESULTS: The success rate of central sulcus identification in the LE was 66.7% (12/18 cases). Direct cortical stimulation motor-evoked potential monitoring could record stable contralateral motor-evoked potentials of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and abductor hallucis in 16 of 18 cases (88.9%). The mean intensity of stimulation for D-MEPs was 20.5 ± 9.9 mA, and the 16 cases showed no significant reduction in amplitude. Seventeen cases showed no deterioration of motor function of the LE at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. In the remaining case with unsuccessful D-MEP, paralysis of the LE worsened at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of electrodes in the interhemispheric fissure on the primary motor cortex of the LE enabled motor-function monitoring in the LE with D-MEPs, suggesting that D-MEP-based monitoring may be a reliable approach.

Post-surgical Hearing Improvement in a Case of Jugular Foramen Schwannoma Despite the Lack of Response in a Preoperative Auditory Brainstem Response Test.

We report a rare case involving improved hearing after surgery for a jugular foramen schwannoma despite the lack of response during the preoperative auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. A left jugular foramen tumor was diagnosed in a 79-year-old man with hearing loss. No response was observed during the preoperative ABR test. However, his hearing improved after surgery using the lateral suboccipital approach. Following Gamma Knife radiation to the residual tumor post-surgery, the ABR test detected V waves. The hearing of patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors can improve even when there is no response during the preoperative ABR test.

Awake Craniotomy for Astrocytoma in the Left Frontal Lobe Using Augmented Reality Superimposing Tumor and White Matter Tracts: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Augmented reality (AR) is expected to serve as an assistive intraoperative technology in neurosurgery.1 Awake craniotomy (AC) for gliomas benefits the extent of resection, survival, and postoperative neurofunctional outcomes.2 In AC, it is critical to understand the cortical and subcortical anatomy.3 We describe the use of AR superimposing tumor and deep white matter tracts in AC. A 29-year-old right-handed woman presented to a local hospital after an episode of generalized convulsions. MRI of the head revealed a widely spreading tumor in the left middle frontal gyrus. After a left frontal craniotomy while the patient was asleep, AR was used to indicate the tumor boundary with subcortical fibers including the corticospinal tract, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and cingulate fasciculus. We performed AR-assisted removal of the tumor on the surface of the middle frontal gyrus. On subcortical stimulation (SCS) of the frontal aslant tract and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, the patient stopped naming objects in the picture-naming test, while SCS of the left cingulate gyrus caused the patient to mistake colors in the Stroop test. The subcortical fibers identified by AR coincided with the sites of symptom elicitation by SCS. We eventually removed a large part of the tumor. Postoperative MRI confirmed 96.2% resection. The patient was discharged without any new neurological deficits. AC with AR is useful for resection of gliomas in the dominant hemisphere. The patient consented to the procedure and to the publication of her image. The ethics committee of our hospital does not require approval for case reports.

Effect of Intraoperative Ventricular Opening on Recurrence Patterns Following Bis-Chloroethyl-Nitrosourea Wafer Implantation for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ventricular opening (VO) on recurrence patterns in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) treated with bis-chloroethyl-nitrosourea (BCNU) wafer implantation. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 40 patients with newly diagnosed GBM who received BCNU wafer implantation after tumor resection between March 2013 and February 2022. The patients were categorized into two groups based on whether VO occurred during the GBM resection. While 18 patients had VO, 22 did not have VO. In cases with VO, the ventricular wall defect is closed with gelatin or oxidized regenerated cellulose and fibrin glue before BCNU wafer implantation. Recurrence patterns-classified as local, diffuse, distant, or multifocal-and time to recurrence were compared between patients with and without VO. Results: The median follow-up period for the entire cohort was 32.2 months (interquartile range, 16.7-38 months). Median survival time was comparable between patients with VO and patients without VO (38 vs. 26 months, p=0.53). Recurrence occurred in 31/40 patients (77.5%) in entire cohort. The incidence of recurrence was comparable between patients with VO and patients without VO (14 [77.8%] vs. 17 [77.3%], p=1.0). No significant differences were seen between the two groups in time to recurrence (p=0.59) or recurrence patterns (p=0.35). Conclusion: Ventricular opening during surgery with BCNU wafer implantation does not seem to influence the recurrence patterns. Ventricular opening does not induce distant recurrence if appropriate ventricular closure is performed.

Characterization of HIF-1α Knockout Primary Human Natural Killer Cells Including Populations in Allogeneic Glioblastoma.

Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Natural killer cells (NK) are major innate effector cells with broad cytotoxicity against tumors. Accordingly, NK cells are ideal candidates for cancer immunotherapy, including glioblastoma (GBM). Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and tumor cells and normal cells adapt to the tumor microenvironment by upregulating the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, which can be detrimental to anti-tumor effector immune cell function, including that of NK cells. We knocked out HIF-1α in human primary NK cells using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9). Then, cellular characterizations were conducted in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Electroporating two HIF-1α-targeting guide RNA-Cas9 protein complexes inhibited HIF-1α expression in expanded NK cells. HIF-1α knockout human NK cells, including populations in hypoxic conditions, enhanced the growth inhibition of allogeneic GBM cells and induced apoptosis in GBM-cell-derived spheroids. RNA-sequencing revealed that the cytotoxicity of HIF-1α knockout NK cells could be related to increased perforin and TNF expression. The results demonstrated that HIF-1α knockout human NK cells, including populations, enhanced cytotoxicity in an environment mimicking the hypoxic conditions of GBM. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated HIF-1α knockout NK cells, including populations, could be a promising immunotherapeutic alternative in patients with GBM.

Management Approaches and Patient Outcomes for Giant Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors Classified as Knosp Grade 3 and 4.

Background Treatment of patients with a giant pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (GPitNET) is challenging. Here, we present the methods used for the clinical management of patients who underwent GPitNET resection mainly via endoscopic endonasal surgery along with multimodal support to avoid surgical complications, which can affect the outcomes. Methodology The medical records of 25 patients with a GPitNET who underwent endonasal endoscopic surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Complications were analyzed and factors affecting the extent of resection were evaluated. Results Gross total resection was achieved in six (24%), near-total resection (>90%) in nine (36%), and partial resection in 10 (40%) patients. Multivariate analyses revealed that tumors invading the middle fossa had negative effects on the extent of resection (odds ratio = 0.092, p = 0.047). Postoperative vision improved or normalized in 16 (64%), remained stable in eight (32%), and worsened in one (4%), while a new hormonal deficit was noted in seven (28%) patients. Complications included permanent oculomotor nerve palsy in one (4%) and transient oculomotor palsy in one (4%), apoplexy of the residual tumor resulting in ischemic stroke in one (4%), postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage in one (4%), and permanent diabetes insipidus in six (24%) patients. Conclusions For GPitNETs that extend into the middle fossa, our study underscored the difficulties in surgical extraction and the necessity for tailored treatment approaches. To ensure the safest and most complete removal possible, the surgical strategy must be specifically adapted to each case. Additionally, employing a comprehensive support approach is essential to reduce the chance of complications in patients impacted by this condition.

Intraoperative monitoring of trigeminal neuralgia: a technical note.

Trigeminal neuralgia causes excruciating pain in patients. Microvascular decompression is indicated for drug-resistant s trigeminal neuralgia. Unlike facial spasms, any part of the nerve can be the culprit, not only the root entry zone. Intraoperative monitoring does not yet exist for trigeminal neuralgia. We successfully used intermittent stimulation of the superior cerebellar artery during surgery and confirmed the disappearance of the trigeminal nerve motor branch reaction after the release of the compression. Intermittent direct stimulation of the culprit blood vessel using the motor branch of the trigeminal nerve may assist in intraoperative monitoring of decompression during trigeminal nerve vascular decompression surgery.

Preoperative Blood Counts Predict Overall Survival in Patients Undergoing Surgical Removal of Brain Metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: The prognosis for patients with cancer with brain metastasis (BM) requiring surgical removal is quite limited. Preoperative prognostic factors can provide meaningful information to surgeons, oncologists, and patients. This study evaluated the preoperative blood counts in patients with BM who were treated with surgical removal. METHODS: Between January 2011 and November 2021, 221 consecutive surgeries were conducted on 198 patients with BM. Among the 198 patients, 188 patients with sufficient blood test data and follow-up were analyzed in this study. The tumors originated from the lungs (n = 102, 54.3%), colon (n = 26, 13.3%), breast (n = 13, 6.9%), kidney (n = 8, 4.3%), stomach (n = 6, 3.2%), and others (n = 33, 17.6%). The blood test data included neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and albumin. RESULTS: The median follow-up and median survival times were both 11 months (range: 0-139 months). Higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥ 3.17, platelet-lymphocyte ratio ≥112.7, systemic immune-inflammation index ≥594.4, systemic inflammation response index ≥1.25 were unfavorable predictors of prognosis for the patients treated with surgical removal for BM (P < 0.001). Furthermore, lower lymphocyte-monocyte ratio < 2.33 and prognostic nutritional index < 48.5 were unfavorable predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Simple, less expensive, routinely ordered preoperative blood count assessments, such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic inflammation response index, and prognostic nutritional index, can predict the overall survival of patients treated with surgical removal for BM.