Predictors of Progression in a Series of 81 Adult Patients Surgically Managed for an Intracranial Hemangioblastoma: Implications for the Postoperative Follow-Up.

The aim was to identify predictors of progression in a series of patients managed for an intracranial hemangioblastoma, in order to guide the postoperative follow-up modalities. The characteristics of 81 patients managed for an intracranial hemangioblastoma between January 2000 and October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age at diagnosis was of 48 ± 16 years. Eleven (14%) patients had von Hippel-Lindau disease. The most frequent tumor location was the cerebellar hemispheres (n = 51, 65%) and 11 (14%) patients had multicentric hemangioblastomas. A gross total resection was achieved in 75 (93%) patients. Eighteen (22%) patients had a local progression, with a median progression-free survival of 56 months 95% CI [1;240]. Eleven (14%) patients had a distant progression (new hemangioblastoma and/or growth of an already known hemangioblastoma). Local progression was more frequent in younger patients (39 ± 14 years vs. 51 ± 16 years; p = 0.005), and those with von Hippel-Lindau disease (n = 8, 44% vs. n = 3, 5%, p < 0.0001), multiple cerebral locations (n = 3, 17% vs. n = 2, 3%, p = 0.02), and partial tumoral resection (n = 4, 18% vs. n = 1, 2%, p = 0.0006). Therefore, it is advisable to propose a postoperative follow-up for at least 10 years, and longer if at least one predictor of progression is present.

Diagnostic, clinical management, and outcome of bone flap-related osteomyelitis after cranioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe diagnostic, management, and outcome of bone flap-related osteomyelitis after cranioplasty. METHODS: Patients followed up in our tertiary care hospital for bone flap-related osteomyelitis after cranioplasty were included in a retrospective cohort (2008-2021). Determinants of treatment failure were assessed using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier curves analysis. RESULTS: The 144 included patients (81 [56.3%] males; median age 53.4 [interquartile range [IQR], 42.6-62.5] years) mostly presented wound abnormalities (n = 115, 79.9%). All infections were documented, the main pathogens being Staphylococcus aureus (n = 64, 44.4%), Cutibacterium acnes (n = 57, 39.6%), gram-negative bacilli (n = 40, 27.8%) and/or non-aureus staphylococci (n = 34, 23.6%). Surgery was performed in 140 (97.2%) cases, for bone flap removal (n = 102, 72.9%) or debridement with flap retention (n = 31, 22.1%), along with 12.7 (IQR, 8.0-14.0) weeks of antimicrobial therapy. After a follow-up of 117.1 (IQR, 62.5-235.5) weeks, 37 (26.1%) failures were observed: 16 (43.2%) infection persistence, three (8.1%) relapses, 22 (59.5%) superinfections and/or two (1.7%) infection-related deaths. Excluding superinfections, determinants of the 19 (13.4%) specific failures were an index craniectomy for brain tumor (odds ratio = 4.038, P = 0.033) and curettage of bone edges (odds ratio = 0.342, P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Post-craniectomy bone flap osteomyelitis are difficult-to-treat infection, necessitating prolonged antimicrobial therapy with appropriate surgical debridement, and advocating for multidisciplinary management in dedicated reference centers.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannoma in Neurofibromatosis Type 2: An International Multicenter Case Series of Response and Malignant Transformation Risk.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) related to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) are challenging tumors. The increasing use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) necessitates further investigations of its role and safety. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate tumor control, freedom from additional treatment (FFAT), serviceable hearing preservation, and radiation-related risks of patients with NF2 after SRS for VS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 267 patients with NF2 (328 VSs) who underwent single-session SRS at 12 centers participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation. The median patient age was 31 years (IQR, 21-45 years), and 52% were male. RESULTS: A total of 328 tumors underwent SRS during a median follow-up time of 59 months (IQR, 23-112 months). At 10 and 15 years, the tumor control rates were 77% (95% CI: 69%-84%) and 52% (95% CI: 40%-64%), respectively, and the FFAT rate were 85% (95% CI: 79%-90%) and 75% (95% CI: 65%-86%), respectively. At 5 and 10 years, the serviceable hearing preservation rates were 64% (95% CI: 55%-75%) and 35% (95% CI: 25%-54%), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, age (hazards ratio: 1.03 [95% CI: 1.01-1.05]; P = .02) and bilateral VSs (hazards ratio: 4.56 [95% CI: 1.05-19.78]; P = .04) were predictors for serviceable hearing loss. Neither radiation-induced tumors nor malignant transformation were encountered in this cohort. CONCLUSION: Although the absolute volumetric tumor progression rate was 48% at 15 years, the rate of FFAT related to VS was 75% at 15 years after SRS. None of the patients with NF2-related VS developed a new radiation-related neoplasm or malignant transformation after SRS.

Comparison of Active Surveillance to Stereotactic Radiosurgery for the Management of Patients with an Incidental Frontobasal Meningioma-A Sub-Analysis of the IMPASSE Study.

Meningioma is a common incidental finding, and clinical course varies based on anatomical location. The aim of this sub-analysis of the IMPASSE study was to compare the outcomes of patients with an incidental frontobasal meningioma who underwent active surveillance to those who underwent upfront stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Data were retrospectively collected from 14 centres. The active surveillance (n = 28) and SRS (n = 84) cohorts were compared unmatched and matched for age, sex, and duration of follow-up (n = 25 each). The study endpoints included tumor progression, new symptom development, and need for further intervention. Tumor progression occurred in 52.0% and 0% of the matched active surveillance and SRS cohorts, respectively (p < 0.001). Five patients (6.0%) treated with SRS developed treatment related symptoms compared to none in the active monitoring cohort (p = 0.329). No patients in the matched cohorts developed symptoms attributable to treatment. Three patients managed with active surveillance (10.7%, unmatched; 12.0%, matched) underwent an intervention for tumor growth with no persistent side effects after treatment. No patients subject to SRS underwent further treatment. Active monitoring and SRS confer a similarly low risk of symptom development. Upfront treatment with SRS improves imaging-defined tumor control. Active surveillance and SRS are acceptable treatment options for incidental frontobasal meningioma.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery Compared With Active Surveillance for Asymptomatic, Parafalcine, and Parasagittal Meningiomas: A Matched Cohort Analysis From the IMPASSE Study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal management of asymptomatic, presumed WHO grade I meningiomas remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To define the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) compared with active surveillance for the management of patients with asymptomatic parafalcine/parasagittal (PFPS) meningiomas. METHODS: Data from SRS-treated patients from 14 centers and patients managed conservatively for an asymptomatic, PFPS meningioma were compared. Local tumor control rate and new neurological deficits development were evaluated in the active surveillance and the SRS-treated cohorts. RESULTS: There were 173 SRS-treated patients and 98 patients managed conservatively in the unmatched cohorts. After matching for patient age and tumor volume, there were 98 patients in each cohort. The median radiological follow-up period was 43 months for the SRS cohort and 36 months for the active surveillance cohort (P = .04). The median clinical follow-up for the SRS and active surveillance cohorts were 44 and 36 months, respectively. Meningioma control was noted in all SRS-treated patients and in 61.2% of patients managed with active surveillance (P < .001). SRS-related neurological deficits occurred in 3.1% of the patients (n = 3), which were all transient. In the active surveillance cohort, 2% of patients (n = 2) developed neurological symptoms because of tumor progression (P = 1.0), resulting in death of 1 patient (1%). CONCLUSION: Up-front SRS affords superior radiological PFPS meningioma control as compared with active surveillance and may lower the risk of meningioma-related permanent neurological deficit and/or death.

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus active surveillance for asymptomatic, skull-based meningiomas: an international, multicenter matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal management of asymptomatic, skull-based meningiomas is not well defined. The aim of this study is to compare the imaging and clinical outcomes of patients with asymptomatic, skull-based meningiomas managed either with upfront stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or active surveillance. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter study involved patients with asymptomatic, skull-based meningiomas. The study end-points included local tumor control and the development of new neurological deficits attributable to the tumor. Factors associated with tumor progression and neurological morbidity were also analyzed. RESULTS: The combined unmatched cohort included 417 patients. Following propensity score matching for age, tumor volume, and follow-up 110 patients remained in each cohort. Tumor control was achieved in 98.2% and 61.8% of the SRS and active surveillance cohorts, respectively. SRS was associated with superior local tumor control (p < 0.001, HR = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.002-0.13) compared to active surveillance. Three patients (2.7%) in the SRS cohort and six (5.5%) in the active surveillance cohort exhibited neurological deterioration. One (0.9%) patient in the SRS-treated and 11 (10%) patients in the active surveillance cohort required surgical management of their meningioma during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SRS is associated with superior local control of asymptomatic, skull-based meningiomas as compared to active surveillance and does so with low morbidity rates. SRS should be offered as an alternative to active surveillance as the initial management of asymptomatic skull base meningiomas. Active surveillance policies do not currently specify the optimal time to intervention when meningioma growth is noted. Our results indicate that if active surveillance is the initial management of choice, SRS should be recommended when radiologic tumor progression is noted and prior to clinical progression.

Cranial and Cerebral Anatomic Key Points for Neurosurgery: A New Educational Insight.

BACKGROUND: The anatomy of both the skull and the brain offers many landmarks that could lead surgery. Cranial "craniometric" key points were described many years ago, and then, cerebral key points-along sulci and gyri-were detailed more recently for microneurosurgical approaches that can reach deep structures while sparing the brain. Nonetheless, this anatomic knowledge is progressively competed by new digital devices, such as imaging guidance systems, although they can be misleading. OBJECTIVE: To summarize cranial and sulcal key points and their related anatomic structures to renew their interest in modern neurosurgery and help surgical anatomy teaching. METHODS: After a literature review collecting anatomic key points of skull and brain, specimens were prepared and images were taken to expose skull and brain from lateral, superior, posterior, and oblique views. A high-definition camera was used, and images obtained were modified, superimposing both key points and underlying anatomic structures. RESULTS: From 4 views, 16 cranial key points were depicted: anterior and superior squamous point, precoronal and retrocoronal point, superior sagittal point, intraparietal point, temporoparietal point, preauricular point, nasion, bregma, stephanion, euryon, lambda, asterion, opisthocranion, and inion. These corresponded to underlying cerebral key points and relative brain parts: anterior and posterior sylvian point, superior and inferior rolandic point, supramarginal and angular gyri, parieto-occipital sulcus, and various meeting points between identifiable sulci. Stereoscopic views were also provided to help learning these key points. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive overview of the cranial and sulcal key points could be a useful tool for any neurosurgeon who wants to check her/his surgical route and make the surgery more "gentle, safe, and accurate."

Stereotactic radiosurgery versus active surveillance for incidental, convexity meningiomas: a matched cohort analysis from the IMPASSE study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment strategy of asymptomatic, convexity meningiomas, remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of patients with asymptomatic convexity meningiomas. METHODS: Data of SRS-treated patients from 14 participating centers and patients managed conservatively for an asymptomatic, convexity-located meningioma were compared. Local tumor control rate and development of new neurologic deficits were evaluated in the active surveillance and in the SRS-treated cohorts. RESULTS: In the unmatched cohorts, there were 99 SRS-treated patients and 140 patients managed conservatively for an asymptomatic, convexity meningioma. Following propensity score matching for age, there were 98 patients in each cohort. In the matched cohorts, tumor control was achieved in 99% of SRS-treated, and in 69.4% of conservatively managed patients (p < 0.001). New neurological deficits occurred in 2.0% of patients in each of the matched cohorts (p = 1.00). Increasing age was predictive of tumor growth [(OR 1.1; 95% CI (1.04 - 1.2), (p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: This is one of the first reports to suggest that SRS is a low risk and effective treatment strategy for asymptomatic incidentally discovered convexity meningiomas. In this study, tumor control was achieved in significantly more patients after radiosurgery compared to those managed with active surveillance. SRS may be offered at diagnosis of an asymptomatic convexity meningioma and should be recommended when meningioma growth is noted on follow-up.

An international multicenter matched cohort analysis of incidental meningioma progression during active surveillance or after stereotactic radiosurgery: the IMPASSE study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal management of patients with incidental meningiomas remains unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the radiologic and neurological outcomes of expectant and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) management of asymptomatic meningioma patients. METHODS: Using data from 14 centers across 10 countries, the study compares SRS outcomes to active surveillance of asymptomatic meningiomas. Local tumor control of asymptomatic meningiomas and development of new neurological deficits attributable to the tumor were evaluated in the SRS and conservatively managed groups. RESULTS: In the unmatched cohorts, 727 meningioma patients underwent SRS and were followed for a mean of 57.2 months. In the conservatively managed cohort, 388 patients were followed for a mean of 43.5 months. Tumor control was 99.0% of SRS and 64.2% of conservatively managed patients (P < .001; OR 56.860 [95% CI 26.253-123.150]). New neurological deficits were 2.5% in the SRS and 2.8% of conservatively managed patients (P = .764; OR 0.890 [95% CI 0.416-1.904]). After 1:1 propensity matching for patient age, tumor volume, location, and imaging follow-up, tumor control in the SRS and conservatively managed cohorts was 99.4% and 62.1%, respectively (P < .001; OR 94.461 [95% CI 23.082-386.568]). In matched cohorts, new neurological deficits were noted in 2.3% of SRS-treated and 3.2% of conservatively managed patients (P = .475; OR 0.700 [95% CI 0.263-1.863]). CONCLUSIONS: SRS affords superior radiologic tumor control compared to active surveillance without increasing the risk of neurological deficits in asymptomatic meningioma patients. While SRS and active surveillance are reasonable options, SRS appears to alter the natural history of asymptomatic meningiomas including tumor progression in the majority of patients treated.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for asymptomatic petroclival region meningiomas: a focused analysis from the IMPASSE study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal management of asymptomatic, petroclival meningiomas remains incompletely defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of upfront stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with asymptomatic, petroclival region meningiomas. METHODS: This retrospective, international, multicenter study involved patients treated with SRS for an asymptomatic, petroclival region meningioma. Study endpoints included local tumor control rate, procedural complications, and the emergence of new neurological deficits. RESULTS: There were 72 patients (22 males, mean age 59.53 years (SD ± 11.9)) with an asymptomatic meningioma located in the petroclival region who were treated with upfront SRS. Mean margin dose and maximum dose were 13.26 (SD ± 2.72) Gy and 26.14 (SD ± 6.75) Gy respectively. Median radiological and clinical follow-up periods post-SRS were 52.5 (IQR 61.75) and 47.5 months (IQR 69.75) respectively. At last follow-up, tumor control was achieved in all patients. SRS-related complications occurred in 6 (8.33%) patients, with 3 of them (4.17%) exhibiting new neurological deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Upfront SRS for asymptomatic, petroclival region meningiomas affords excellent local tumor control and does so with a relatively low risk of SRS-related complications. SRS can be considered at diagnosis of an asymptomatic petroclival region meningioma. If active surveillance is initially chosen, SRS should be recommended when growth is noted during radiological follow-up.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for glioblastoma considering tumor genetic profiles: an international multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Molecular profiles, such as isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status, have important prognostic roles for glioblastoma patients. The authors studied the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for glioblastoma patients with consideration of molecular tumor profiles. METHODS: For this retrospective observational multiinstitutional study, the authors pooled consecutive patients who were treated using SRS for glioblastoma at eight institutions participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation. They evaluated predictors of overall and progression-free survival with consideration of IDH mutation and MGMT methylation status. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (median age 56 years) underwent SRS (median dose 15 Gy and median treatment volume 5.53 cm3) at 147 tumor sites (range 1 to 7). The majority of patients underwent prior fractionated radiation therapy (92%) and temozolomide chemotherapy (98%). Most patients were treated at recurrence (85%), and boost SRS was used for 12% of patients. The majority of patients harbored IDH wild-type (82%) and MGMT-methylated (62%) tumors. Molecular data were unavailable for 33 patients. Median survival durations after SRS were similar between patients harboring IDH wild-type tumors and those with IDH mutant tumors (9.0 months vs 11 months, respectively), as well as between those with MGMT-methylated tumors and those with MGMT-unmethylated tumors (9.8 vs. 9.0 months, respectively). Prescription dose > 15 Gy (OR 0.367, 95% CI 0.190-0.709, p = 0.003) and treatment volume > 5 cm3 (OR 1.036, 95% CI 1.007-1.065, p = 0.014) predicted overall survival after controlling for age and IDH status. Treatment volume > 5 cm3 (OR 2.215, 95% CI 1.159-4.234, p = 0.02) and absence of gross-total resection (OR 0.403, 95% CI 0.208-0.781, p = 0.007) were associated with inferior local control of SRS-treated lesions in multivariate models. Nine patients experienced adverse radiation events after SRS, and 7 patients developed radiation necrosis at 59 to 395 days after SRS. CONCLUSIONS: Post-SRS survival was similar as a function of IDH mutation and MGMT promoter methylation status, suggesting that molecular profiles of glioblastoma should be considered when selecting candidates for SRS. SRS prescription dose > 15 Gy and treatment volume ≤ 5 cm3 were associated with longer survival, independent of age and IDH status. Prior gross-total resection and smaller treatment volume were associated with superior local control.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for IDH wild type glioblastoma: an international, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status is recommended used for diagnosis and prognostication of glioblastoma patients. We studied efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for patients with recurrent IDH-wt glioblastoma. METHODS: Consecutive patients treated with SRS for IDH-wt glioblastoma were pooled for this retrospective observational international multi-institutional study from institutions participating in the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation. RESULTS: Sixty patients (median age 61 years) underwent SRS (median dose 15 Gy and median treatment volume: 7.01 cm3) for IDH-wt glioblastoma. All patients had histories of surgery and chemotherapy with temozolomide, and 98% underwent fractionated radiation therapy. MGMT status was available for 42 patients, of which half of patients had MGMT mutant glioblastomas. During median post-SRS imaging follow-up of 6 months, 52% of patients experienced tumor progression. Median post-SRS progression free survival was 4 months. SRS prescription dose of > 14 Gy predicted longer progression free survival [HR 0.357 95% (0.164-0.777) p = 0.009]. Fifty-percent of patients died during post-SRS clinical follow-up that ranged from 1 to 33 months. SRS treatment volume of > 5 cc emerged as an independent predictor of shorter post-SRS overall survival [HR 2.802 95% CI (1.219-6.444) p = 0.02]. Adverse radiation events (ARE) suggestive of radiation necrosis were diagnosed in 6/55 (10%) patients and were managed conservatively in the majority of patients. CONCLUSIONS: SRS prescription dose of > 14 Gy is associated with longer progression free survival while tumor volume of > 5 cc is associated with shorter overall survival after SRS for IDH-wt glioblastomas. AREs are rare and are typically managed conservatively.

Current status and treatment modalities in metastases to the pituitary: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Metastases to the pituitary (MP) are uncommon, accounting for 0.4% of intracranial metastases. Through advances in neuroimaging and oncological therapies, patients with metastatic cancers are living longer and MP may be more frequent. This review aimed to investigate clinical and oncological features, treatment modalities and their effect on survival. METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA recommendations. All cases of MP were included, excepted primary pituitary neoplasms and autopsy reports. Descriptive and survival analyses were then conducted. RESULTS: The search identified 2143 records, of which 157 were included. A total of 657 cases of MP were reported, including 334 females (50.8%). The mean ± standard deviation age was 59.1 ± 11.9 years. Lung cancer was the most frequent primary site (31.0%), followed by breast (26.2%) and kidney cancers (8.1%). Median survival from MP diagnosis was 14 months. Overall survival was significantly different between lung, breast and kidney cancers (P < .0001). Survival was impacted by radiotherapy (hazard ratio (HR) 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35-0.67; P < .0001) and chemotherapy (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.36-0.92; P = .013) but not by surgery. Stereotactic radiotherapy tended to improve survival over conventional radiotherapy (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.39-1.12; P = .065). Patients from recent studies (≥ 2010) had longer survival than others (HR 1.36; 95% CI 1.05-1.76; P = .0019). CONCLUSION: This systematic review based on 657 cases helped to better identify clinical features, oncological characteristics and the effect of current therapies in patients with MP. Survival patterns were conditioned upon primary cancer histologies, the use of local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy, but not by surgery.