Stereotactic radiosurgery for WHO grade I posterior fossa meningiomas: long-term outcomes with volumetric evaluation.

OBJECTIVEResearch over the past 2 decades has been characterizing the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of benign intracranial tumors, including meningiomas. However, few studies have examined the long-term outcomes of SRS treatment for posterior fossa meningiomas (PFMs). Furthermore, previous studies have typically used single diameter measurements when reporting outcomes, which can yield misleading results. The authors describe the use of SRS in the treatment of benign WHO grade I PFMs and correlate volumetric analysis with long-term outcomes.METHODSThis study is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained IRB-approved database. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of WHO grade I PFM with subsequent treatment via single-session SRS and a minimum of 3 follow-up MRI studies available. Volumetric analysis was performed on the radiosurgical scan and each subsequently available follow-up scan by using slice-by-slice area calculations of the meningioma and numerical integration with the trapezoid rule.RESULTSThe final cohort consisted of 120 patients, 76.6% (92) of whom were female, with a median age of 61 years (12-88 years). Stereotactic radiosurgery was the primary treatment for 65% (78) of the patients, whereas 28.3% (34) had 1 resection before SRS treatment and 6.7% (8) had 2 or more resections before SRS. One patient had prior radiotherapy. Tumor characteristics included a median volume of 4.0 cm3 (0.4-40.9 cm3) at treatment with a median margin dose of 15 Gy (8-20 Gy). The median clinical and imaging follow-ups were 79.5 (15-224) and 72 (6-213) months, respectively. For patients treated with a margin dose ≥ 16 Gy, actuarial progression-free survival rates during the period 2-10 years post-SRS were 100%. In patients treated with a margin dose of 13-15 Gy, the actuarial progression-free survival rates at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years were 97.5%, 97.5%, 93.4%, 93.4%, and 93.4%, respectively. Those who were treated with ≤ 12 Gy had actuarial progression-free survival rates of 95.8%, 82.9%, 73.2%, 56.9%, and 56.9% at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years, respectively. The overall tumor control rate was 89.2% (107 patients). Post-SRS improvement in neurological symptoms occurred in 23.3% (28 patients), whereas symptoms were stable in 70.8% (85 patients) and worsened in 5.8% (7 patients). Volumetric analysis demonstrated that a change in tumor volume at 3 years after SRS reliably predicted a volumetric change and tumor control at 5 years (R2 = 0.756) with a p < 0.001 and at 10 years (R2 = 0.421) with a p = 0.001. The authors also noted that the 1- to 5-year tumor response is predictive of the 5- to 10-year tumor response (R2 = 0.636, p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSStereotactic radiosurgery, as an either upfront or adjuvant treatment, is a durable therapeutic option for WHO grade I PFMs, with high tumor control and a low incidence of post-SRS neurological deficits compared with those obtained using alternate treatment modalities. Lesion volumetric response at the short-term follow-up of 3 years is predictive of the long-term response at 5 and 10 years.

Postoperative hematoma involving brainstem, peduncles, cerebellum, deep subcortical white matter, cerebral hemispheres following chronic subdural hematoma evacuation.

Among the intracranial hematomas, chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) are the most benign with a mortality rate of 0.5-4.0%. The elderly and alcoholics are commonly affected by CSDH. Even though high percentage of CSDH patients improves after the evacuation, there are some unexpected potential complications altering the postoperative course with neurological deterioration. Poor outcome in postoperative period is due to complications like failure of brain to re-expand, recurrence of hematoma and tension pneumocephalus. We present a case report with multiple intraparenchymal hemorrhages in various locations like brainstem, cerebral and cerebellar peduncles, right cerebellar hemisphere, right thalamus, right capsulo-ganglionic region, right corona radiata and cerebral hemispheres after CSDH evacuation. Awareness of this potential problem and the immediate use of imaging if the patient does not awake from anesthesia or if he develops new onset focal neurological deficits, are the most important concerns to the early diagnosis of this rare complication.

Predictors of visual outcome with transsphenoidal excision of pituitary adenomas having suprasellar extension: A prospective series of 100 cases and brief review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the factors influencing the visual outcome following trans-sphenoidal excision of pituitary adenomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients of pituitary adenomas with suprasellar extension (SSE) were operated by trans-sphenoidal approach from July 2003 to December 2006. There were 52 male and 48 female patients with a mean age of 42.47 years. The visual impairment score, which was used to evaluate the visual outcome was produced by adding the scores for visual acuity and visual field defects of each patient (from the tables of the German Ophthalmological Society). The mean diameter, the SSE and the parasellar extension of the lesion were noted in the magnetic resonance imaging study. The average follow-up was 43.5 months. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the tumor was 32.97 mm, and the mean SSE was 14.95 mm. The parasellar extension was present in 27 patients. The vision improved in 61 of the 71 patients (85.91%). The shorter the duration of visual symptoms and smaller the size of the lesion resulted in better visual outcome. The age and the preoperative visual impairment did not show any correlation with the visual outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with visual symptoms of <1-year duration (P < 0.01) and adenomas of <36.5 mm diameter (P < 0.009) have better visual outcome.

Clival giant cell tumor - A rare case report and review of literature with respect to current line of management.

Giant-cell tumor (GCT) involving the skull base is rare. Sphenoid bone is the most commonly involved bone followed by petrous temporal bone. Histopathology and radiological features of these lesions are similar to GCT involving bone elsewhere. Unlike other sites, skull base is not an ideal site for the radical surgery. Hence adjuvant treatment has pivotal role. Radiation therapy with intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery or chemotherapy with adriamycin are promising as described in some case reports. Bisphosphonates showed good control in local recurrence. In vitro studies with Zolendronate loaded bone cement and phase 2 trials of Denosumab showed hopeful results, may be useful in future.

C2 Primary leiomyoma in an immunocompetent woman: A case report and review of literature.

Clinical case report and review of the literature. This is the first case of primary leiomyoma in an immunocompetent woman without previous history of uterine leiomyoma being reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. Leiomyoma, a type of smooth muscle cell tumor, involving the vertebra is extremely rare. There were very few primary leiomyoma in patients with AIDS or in the immune-suppressed patients. This 48-year-old female came with H/o neck pain, weakness and bladder retention. On examination, tone increased in all four limbs, power on the right side of the limbs 4/5, power on the left upper limb 0/5, lower limb 3/5, left plantar was up going, decreased sensation over the left second cervical vertebra (C2) dermatome and all modalities decreased below C2. X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine showed kyphosis of the cervical spine with destruction of the C2 vertebral body along with pathological fracture. The patient underwent decompression of the C2 lesion through the C2 right pedicle with occipito-C1-C3 lateral mass screws fixation. Lesion anterior to the cord was reached by a transpedicular approach and decompression was performed. The lesion was pinkish grey, firm and moderately vascular and was destroying the C2 vertebral body. The patient improved symptomatically in power in the left upper limb and lower limb over the next 1 week duration from 0/5 to 4+/5. Histopathology revealed primary leiomyoma. The patient was evaluated with ultrasound abdomen and contrast tomogram of the chest, abdomen and pelvis to rule out other possible lesions in the lung, intestines and uterus. We suggest that leiomyoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of destructive lytic lesions involving the C2 vertebra. Histopathological examination with immunohistochemistry is necessary for the definitive diagnosis. Treatment of choice is surgery with complete removal.

Brainstem epidermoid cyst: An update.

The incidence of epidermoid tumors is between 1% and 2% of all intracranial tumors. The usual locations of epidermoid tumor are the parasellar region and cerebellopontine angle, and it is less commonly located in sylvian fissure, suprasellar region, cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, and lateral and fourth ventricles. Epidermoid cysts located in the posterior fossa usually arise in the lateral subarachnoid cisterns, and those located in the brain stem are rare. These epidermoids contain cheesy and flaky white soft putty like contents. Epidermoid cysts are very slow growing tumors having a similar growth pattern of the epidermal cells of the skin and develop from remnants of epidermal elements during closure of the neural groove and disjunction of the surface ectoderm with neural ectoderm between the third and fifth weeks of embryonic life. We are presenting an interesting case of intrinsic brainstem epidermoid cyst containing milky white liquefied material with flakes in a 5-year-old girl. Diffusion-weighted imaging is definitive for the diagnosis. Ideal treatment of choice is removal of cystic components with complete resection of capsule. Although radical resection will prevent recurrence, in view of very thin firmly adherent capsule to brainstem, it is not always possible to do complete resection of capsule without any neurological deficits.

Parietal pilomyxoid astrocytoma with recurrence in 10 months: A case report and review of literature.

Pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) is a new entity described in WHO 2007 classification of brain tumors. Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) and PMA share many histopathological features with a few differences in histopathology and behavior of the tumor. This tumor is commonly located in the hypothalamic chiasmatic region. PMA behaves more aggressively than PA, with shorter progression-free survival as well as a higher rate of recurrence and CNS dissemination. We describe a case of PMA in a 10-year-old male involving left parietal lobe presenting with raised ICP features along with the follow-up. Patient was symptom free after 7 months of postoperative and 5½ months of post-radiation. The unusual site and atypical Magnetic resonance imaging features are distinctive in this case report.