[Neurosurgical treatment of tumors of the pineal region - literature review and overview of cases at OMIII]. / A pineális régió tumorainak idegsebészeti ellátása ­ irodalmi áttekintés és az OMIII beteganyagának vizsgálata.

Pineal region tumors account for less than 1% of adult supratentorial tumors. Their treatment requires a multimodality approach. Previously, the treatment of choice was direct surgery, which is associated with high surgical risk. Advances in minimally invasive techniques and onco-radiotherapy offer a safe and multimodal personalized therapy. The aim of our study was to describe the practice of our Institute based on combined endoscopic and radiotherapy techniques. We performed a retrospective clinical study. We processed data from 23 adult patients who underwent endoscopic third ventricle fenestration and pineal tumor biopsy between 2014 and 2023. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed. Clinical improvement with endoscopic intervention was achieved in 78.3% of cases. Significant increase in preoperative performance status was observed in the postoperative period (p=2.755e-5), and radiotherapy resulted in regression or stable disease. Our results suggest a safe treatment with good clinical outcome and an excellent alternative to direct surgery.

[Pediatric neurosurgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst at the level of thoracic spine]. / Aneurysmás csontcysta gyermek-idegsebészeti megoldása a háti gerinc magasságában.

Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign but locally aggressive bone tumours, most often affecting children and young adults. In this case report, we present the clinical  picture of a 15-year-old boy with progressive, chronic back pain. An MRI of thoracic spine  confirmed a T2 cystic spinal tumour. After considering potential options surgical removal was our choice and gross total removal was achieved with T1-3 short-segment fixation. Aneurysmal bone cysts are often rapidly expanding lesions with vascular  transformation. In order to avoid irreversible damage, in addition to early diagnosis, it is necessary to carefully consider the therapeutic options, perform surgical removal and stabilization as necessary. In case of the presented patient, extensive surgical removal and short-segmentation were performed. At 18 months of follow-up, he had no complaints and was asymptomatic. Follow-up imaging studies showed no residual or recurrent tumour to date.

[Surgical treatment of paediatric brain tumours]. / A gyermekkori agydaganatok sebészi kezelése.

Central nervous system (CNS) tumours are the second most common neoplasm types in children. In most cases the aetiology is unknown, but some genetic syndromes can be related to CNS tumours. The symptoms are not specified, that is why in case of younger ages the tumour can reach extreme sizes. In case of infants the surgical technique is determined by the amount of circulating blood. Precise haemostasis is of utmost importance. In the last years, because of the development of imaging, surgical and anaesthetic techniques, the overall survival rate increased among paediatric brain cancer patients, and with this, the quality of life as well has improved significantly. Between 1975 and 2010 there was a 50% improvement in 5-year survival.

Miyazaki syndrome: Cervical myelo/radiculopathy caused by overshunting. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Miyazaki syndrome is a cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy caused by cervical epidural venous congestion, due to cerebrospinal fluid over-drainage by an implanted ventricular shunt. The complex pathophysiology includes CSF pressure-changes consistent with the Monro-Kellie doctrine and a non-functional Starling resistor, leading to spinal epidural venous plexus enlargement and dilation. This venous congestion may be significant enough to exert compression on the spinal cord or nerve roots. The typical clinical and imaging findings together with a history of ventricular CSF shunting may establish the diagnosis, proven by a successful treatment. The aim of treatment is the abrogation of CSF over-drainage. The eligible interventions may be the followings: the increase of the opening-pressure of the valve system by the insertion of a new programmable valve if necessary, closing or removing the shunt. AIM: We want to call attention to this rare iatrogenic condition with potentially severe consequences. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We perform a systematic literature-review and present our five cases. RESULTS: Once recognized in time, Miyazaki syndrome can be well taken care of. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic ventricular shunt need monitoring for CSF over-drainage to recognise potential complications such as cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy.

Surgical Outcomes of Single-Level Bilateral Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Spastic Diplegia in 150 Consecutive Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is used to improve spasticity, gait, and pain in children with spastic diplegia. There is growing evidence supporting its long-term benefits in terms of functional outcomes, independence, and quality of life. There is, however, little contemporary work describing the surgical morbidity of this irreversible procedure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes and complications of SDR at a single United Kingdom center. METHODS: Demographics, surgical, postoperative, and follow-up data for all patients undergoing SDR between 2011 and 2016 were collected from medical records. RESULTS: Preoperative Gross Motor Function Classification System levels in 150 consecutive patients were II (35%), III (65%), and IV (1%). Median age was 6 years and 58% were male patients. There were no deaths, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, returns to theater, or readmissions within 30 days. There were no new motor or sphincter deficits. Postoperative neuropathic pain was reported by 5.3% and sensory symptoms by 8.7%. Other complications included: postoperative nausea and vomiting (19.3%), superficial wound infection (3.3%), urinary retention (1.3%), headache (6.7%), and urine or chest infection (4.7%). Follow-up data were available for all patients (93% to 12 months, 72% to 24 months). Persistent neuropathic symptoms were reported in 6.5% at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: SDR using a single-level approach is a safe procedure with low surgical morbidity. This study complements the growing evidence base in support of SDR for spastic diplegia and should help inform decisions when considering treatment options.

[Current diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension]. / Az idiopathiás intracranialis hipertenzió korszeru diagnózisa és kezelése.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is cha-racterized by raised intracranial pressure of unknown origin, leading to persisting visual loss if left untreated. Purpose - We assessed timing of surgery, and the efficacy and safety of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 65 patients treated at our Neuro-ophthalmology Clinic between 2009 and 2017. Patients - We treated 15 children and 50 adults, 42 patients conservatively, and 23 surgically. The median age at presentation was 27 years for adults, 88% were obese, and 86% female. The age of children was 5-17 years, 40% were obese, and 53% girl. The commonest presentation symptom was headache in both groups (64%), followed by obscuration (33%), and double vision (22-31%). Subjective visual loss was only experienced in the surgical group (50%). The time until diagnosis was 2 weeks in both groups. However, the conservative group presented to our institute significantly earlier (3 weeks), than the surgical group (8 weeks). The follow-up time was 25 months. RESULTS: In the conservative group papilla edema was 2D, visual acuity ≥0.7, and visual field loss was only mild. Time to cure was 3 months. In the surgical group both preoperative papilla edema (3D), and visual function were significantly worse. Indications for surgery were papilla edema, deteriorating visual function or relapse resistant to conservative treatment. Papilla edema disappeared 3 months after surgery, and visual field deficit improved significantly. We detected significant improvement in all aspects of visual function even at first neuro-ophthalmic control 4 days after surgery. However, visual acuity only improved in cases of preoperative acuity ≥0.3. Shunt revision occurred in 17%, and shunt infection in 8.5%. One patient suffered from persistent visual deterioration after surgery, and asymptomatic complication (epidural hematoma) was found in another patient. There was no surgical mortality. CONCLUSION: This is a curable condition with early diagnosis and adequate treatment, and persistent visual loss can be prevented. Surgery is effective and safe, close neuro-ophthalmic monitoring is mandatory for its optimal timing. Visual function of all patients can be preserved when operated on in time, whereas severe visual loss appears to be irreversible despite surgery.

[Pediatric intraventricular tumors]. / Gyermekkori intraventricularis agydaganatok.

Pediatric intraventricular tumors present a well circumscribed group from surgical point of view. These tumors growing in the ventricular system cause hydrocephalus in most of the cases, the presenting symptoms are the signs of raised intracranial pressure. The mass lesion may remain silent for a long period, especially in infancy due to compensatory mechanisms, and the tumor might reach extreme size making the surgery a real challenge. This group has very specific postoperative problems resulting from the disturbance of CSF circulation. In this study we present the retrospective analysis of 55 patient operated for intraventricular tumor in the National Institute of Neurosurgery between 1991 and 2006. Data were analysed regarding histological type, presenting symptoms, type of surgical approach, radicalitiy of the resection and postoperative complications. In addition to our own results brief presentation of the specific histological groups is given based on the available literature.

Projections from the vestibular nuclei to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus: morphological evidence for the existence of a vestibular stress pathway in the rat brain.

Although it has been reported by several laboratories that vestibular stress activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA), the existence of neuronal connections between vestibular and hypothalamic paraventricular neurons has not yet been demonstrated. By the use of a virus-based retrograde trans-synaptic tracing technique in the rat, here we demonstrate vestibular projections to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Pseudorabies virus (Bartha strain, type BDR62) was injected into the PVN, and the progression of the infection along synaptically connected neurons was followed in the pons and the medulla, 3 and 4 days post-inoculation. Virus-infected neurons were revealed mainly in the medial vestibular nucleus. Labeled cells were scattered in the spinal, and very rarely in the superior nuclei, but none of them in the lateral vestibular nucleus. Injections of cholera toxin B subunit, a monosynaptic retrograde tracer into the PVN failed to label any cells in the vestibular nuclei. These results provide anatomical evidence for the existence of a vestibulo-paraventricular polysynaptic pathway and support the view that the HPA axis is modulated by vestibular stress.

Retrospective analysis of 400 neuroendoscopic interventions: the Hungarian experience.

OBJECT: The authors present the results of 400 consecutive neuroendoscopic interventions performed by a single surgeon in 373 patients during the last 8 years. METHODS: The study is based on a retrospective analysis of a continuously updated electronic database that includes patient history and radiological files. The success rate of the interventions is calculated. CONCLUSIONS: The underlying pathological condition was hydrocephalus of various origins. The success rate within patient groups is given and the factors leading to successful surgery are emphasized. Recommendations on indications for neuroendoscopic operations are discussed.