Is non-contrast MRI sufficient to detect meningioma residue after surgery?

BACKGROUND: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality routinely used to follow up patients who have undergone surgical resection of brain meningiomas. There are growing concerns about the massive use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA). Our aim was to evaluate the performance of a new imaging protocol, performed without GBCA injection, in the detection of tumoral residue or local recurrence after surgery of parafalcine and convexity meningiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Only adult patients with a documented resected parafalcine or convexity meningioma were included. We performed a dedicated MRI protocol that included non-contrast and post-contrast sequences. The presence or absence of residue on the unenhanced sequences was independently recorded by three observers: first blindly, then in comparison with a baseline enhanced MRI examination. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were included. 37 of them featured a tumor residue on the reference enhanced sequence. Overall, an average of 32 of 37 (87%) residues were identified on the unenhanced sequences that were blindly reviewed; and more than 34 of 37 (93%) were identified with the help of the comparative baseline enhanced examination, with a high sensitivity. The missed cases were related to small residues. CONCLUSION: Unenhanced MRI sequences are highly sensitive and specific in identifying a tumor residue or a local recurrence in the post operative follow up of brain meningiomas. Sensitivity is even higher with the help of a comparative baseline enhanced MRI examination, whatever the strength of magnetic field.

Collicular Hyperactivation in Patients with COVID-19: A New Finding on Brain MRI and PET/CT.

Hyperactivation of the colliculi has been observed in some patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Identification and measurement of cervical spinal cord atrophy in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and correlation with clinical characteristics and cervical spinal cord MRI data.

INTRODUCTION: The spinal cord is one of the two main targets of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The aim of this study was to highlight cervical spinal cord atrophy in NMO patients as compared to controls and to assess correlations between atrophy and clinical characteristics and cervical spinal cord MRI data. METHODS: This prospective study investigated 15 patients with a diagnosis of NMOSD and 15 healthy controls. The whole cervical spinal cord was explored by MRI. The cross-sectional area (CSA) was estimate at every level of cup. This measurement was then averaged on the whole cervical spinal cord, providing a single measurement for every subject, denoted as mean CSA. RESULTS: Mean CSA was 68.5 mm2 in the population of NMO patients and 72.8 mm2 in the population of healthy subjects. NMO patients had significantly smaller cervical spinal cord area than healthy controls (T test=0.009). Cervical spinal cord atrophy was associated with clinical signs of medullary involvement (T test=0.0006). There was a tendency toward a relation between cervical spinal cord atrophy and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (T test=0.07). This correlation seems statistically significant (T test<0.05) at the level of the upper cervical spinal cord (C2-C3) CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence of cervical spinal cord atrophy in NMOSD by studying the entire cervical spinal cord. Upper cervical spinal cord atrophy was substantially correlated to clinical disability and seems more involved in the development of clinical disability in NMOSD patients in comparison to the lower cervical spinal cord.

The usefulness of fibrin glue as a support in the dissection of malignant cystic brain tumors.

BACKGROUND: If the complete microsurgical resection of a brain tumor is a logical oncologic goal, the surgical strategy for the cystic component remains controversial secondary to the risk of morbidity. The objective of this study was to analyze the interest of using fibrin glue in the resection of malignant cystic brain tumors (MCBT). METHODS: Seven patients (median: 60-years-old (range [52-72]/sex ratio M/F: 2.5) were analyzed prospectively in the Neurosurgery Department at Strasbourg University Hospital, from October 2014 to November 2016. The surgical technique consisted of injecting fibrin glue into the tumor cyst after partial drainage. After the solidification of the glue, the cysts walls were removal by following the dissection plan around the fibrin glue. The primary objective was to evaluate the quality of surgical resection on brain MRI scans postoperatively with the use of ITK-SNAP software for precise measurements of tumor volume. RESULTS: Four metastases and 3 glial lesions were operated on with this technique. An average reduction in cystic volume of 64.6% (P=0.016) and 82.1% (P=0.016) for contrast enhancement volume were observed. If two cases (#2 and #7) were excluded, the average contrast enhancement reduction was respectively 94% and 72% for the cystic volume. In addition, there were no complications, tumor recurrence or difference between gliomas and metastases and the Karnofsky score increased by at least 10% in all patients. CONCLUSION: This procedure allowed to extend the resection to the cystic component of MCBT without increasing the risk of morbidity related to injury on the underlying parenchyma.