[Metastatic brain tumors from gastrointestinal cancer: an analysis of patient background and treatment results].

Metastatic brain tumors have become a critical issue in clinical management for patients with cancer. We retrospectively analysed features of 105 patients with metastatic brain tumors from gastrointestinal cancer, who underwent treatment in our institute between September, 2002 and December, 2010. Treatment strategy was individualized according to the patient's systemic and neurologic conditions, size and location of the brain metastases, and expectant systemic treatment through our cancer board. Treatment outcome was significantly better in patients with RTOG RPA class 2 than in those with class 3(8.6 months vs 3.5 months: p<0.05). Metastatic brain tumors were diagnosed at 6.3/13.1/15.7 months after diagnosis of metastatic lung tumors from esophagus/stomach/colon cancers respectively. A third of the patients with metastatic brain tumor from rectal cancer presented without evident lung metastasis. In conclusion, patients with brain metastasis from gastrointestinal cancers can achieve improvement in survival with early diagnosis and multidisciplinary individualized treatments.

Detection of tumor progression by signal intensity increase on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance images in the resection cavity of high-grade gliomas.

Increased signal intensity (SI) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) images in the resection cavity is sometimes observed after partial resection of gliomas. SI in the resection cavity of 44 high-grade gliomas was retrospectively investigated. Twelve of 35 patients with progressive disease (PD) showed SI increase in the resection cavity, and SI increase preceded PD in 6 of these 12 patients. None of nine patients without PD showed SI increase during the follow-up period. The analysis of SI on FLAIR images in the resection cavity had a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 34%. Higher sensitivity was found in grade IV tumors than in grade III tumors. SI increase is thus considered as a potent highly specific hallmark for subsequent or coincident tumor progression, which is clinically useful since MR imaging is easily performed during routine clinical examinations.

[Multidisciplinary treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma: the triple modality combination of EGFR-TKI, VP shunt and irradiation].

BACKGROUND: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a devastating complication of systemic cancers. New therapies that have beneficial effects on primary cancers outside the central nervous system (CNS) have underscored the significance of LM. Intrathecal chemotherapy plus radiation therapy are less effective for LM from lung adenocarcinoma. We retrospectively studied outcomes of patients with LM from lung adenocarcinoma who underwent multidisciplinary treatments in our institute. METHODS: Four patients with LM from lung adenocarcinoma treated with EGFR-TKI, VP shunt and irradiation. Of those four, two presented with increased intracranial pressure, one with epilepsy, and the other with truncal ataxia. Treatment was indicated when LM was confirmed by MR images or cytology, and Karnofsky Performance Status scale was more than 40%, and life expectancy was more than three months if LM was controlled. EGFR mutation was not examined, because of the unsettled approval of Japanese public health insurance at the time of this study. The patients selected for treatment by EGFR-TKI were all Asian women who had never smoked. Treatment sequence was based on clinical symptoms depending on the individual situation. RESULT: The mean time from diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma to LM onset was 28 (24 to 36) months. Mean survival time from LM diagnosis was 9 months. All patients died of LM. No patients suffered from peritoneal carcinomatosis or infection after VP shunt. CONCLUSION: The triple modality combination of EGFR-TKI, VP shunt and radiation therapy may improve outcomes and symptoms of patients with LM from lung adenocarcinoma.

Impact of the combination of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging-guided surgery for glioma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided resection with resection guided by 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced fluorescence in patients with gliomas and to evaluate the impact of intraoperative MRI in glioma surgery. METHODS: From January 2005 to February 2009, 33 patients with gliomas (6 with World Health Organization [WHO] grade II, 7 with WHO grade III, 20 with WHO grade IV) who underwent craniotomy with neuronavigation and received 5-ALA by the same neurosurgeon were investigated retrospectively. In 19 patients, operations were performed using a combination of 5-ALA with intraoperative 1.5-T MRI. All patients were subjected to postoperative 1.5-T MRI to confirm the extent of resection. RESULTS: Of 33 patients with gliomas, 21 (4 with WHO grade III and 17 with WHO grade IV) were 5-ALA-induced fluorescence-positive (5-ALA (+)). Surgery with intraoperative MRI was performed in 10 of the 21 patients, and the average resection rate was 92.6%. The average resection rate of patients who underwent surgery without intraoperative MRI was 91.8%. 5-ALA-induced fluorescence was not detected in 12 patients (6 with WHO grade II, 3 with WHO grade III, and 3 with WHO grade IV) with gliomas. Surgery with intraoperative MRI was performed in 9 of 12 patients, and the average resection rate was 89.2%. The average resection rate of patients who underwent surgery without intraoperative MRI was 68.7%. Intraoperative MRI-guided tumor resection resulted in a better resection rate in patients with 5-ALA-induced fluorescence-negative (5-ALA (-)) gliomas than in patients with 5-ALA (+) gliomas (20.5% vs 0.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative MRI-guided resection is a powerful tool to treat 5-ALA (-) gliomas (mostly low grade), and 5-ALA is useful for high-grade gliomas. The combination of intraoperative MRI and 5-ALA has a synergistic effect in glioma surgery. Additionally, precise tumor grading in preoperative imaging studies can be difficult. Surgery for gliomas should be performed using both 5-ALA-induced fluorescence and intraoperative MRI-guided resection.

Expression of MSX1 in human normal pituitaries and pituitary adenomas.

Transcription factors play specific roles in the development and differentiation of normal pituitary tissues and pituitary adenoma. The transcription factor, muscle segment homeobox 1 (MSX1), which belongs to the homeobox gene family, binds the promoter region of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit (SU) in TSH-producing cells in the mouse pituitary and regulates alpha-SU expression. The present study investigated MSX1 expression in the normal human pituitary. In addition, 50 pituitary adenomas were examined using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to clarify the role of MSX1 in the development and functional differentiation of pituitary adenoma cells. In the normal pituitary, MSX1 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of GH-producing cells. Furthermore, MSX1 immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of some alpha-SU-producing cells. It is interesting to note that, in the pituitary adenoma, MSX1 was expressed in the nucleus of GH- and TSH-producing adenomas. RT-PCR using RNA extracted and purified from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded pituitary adenoma specimens revealed MSX1 mRNA expressed in GH- and TSH-producing adenomas. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated MSX1 localized at intranuclear heterochromatin and euchromatin, which suggests transcriptional activity. These results suggest that MSX1 plays a specific role in human pituitary adenoma.

Mechanism of injury to the corpus callosum, with particular reference to the anatomical relationship between site of injury and adjacent brain structures.

The location of corpus callosum injury was investigated using magnetic resonance imaging in 92 patients. The anatomical relationships in the region around the corpus callosum were also evaluated to clarify involvement in the mechanism of corpus callosum injury in 20 normal volunteers. Lesions in the posterior half of the corpus callosum accounted for 80% of corpus callosum injuries. The falx was increasingly elongated toward the posterior portion of the corpus callosum and the corpus callosum was thinnest at the body-splenium junction in the normal volunteers. The mechanism of corpus callosum injury apparently involves the following factors. The posterior half of the falx is closer to the corpus callosum than the anterior half. Therefore, the anterior part of the corpus callosum easily moves with lateral movement of the cerebral hemispheres, and the strain is likely to be concentrated in the posterior half of the corpus callosum, because the falx greatly limits lateral movement of the hemisphere in the posterior region. The corpus callosum is easily distorted at the thinnest part of the body-splenium junction. Therefore, corpus callosum injury predominantly occurs in the posterior half of the corpus callosum.

Fully functional MR-compatible flexible operating table resolves the neurosurgeon's dilemma over use of intraoperative MRI.

In February 2006, our hospital officially opened the Magnetic Resonance / X-ray / operation (MRXO) suite, which is the first hybrid neurosurgical procedure suite to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography and angiography with a neurosurgical operating room. For this suite, we have developed a specially designed fully functional magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible flexible operating table. Here, we describe the details of this operating table and discuss its advantages. Its MR-compatible tabletop can be bent during surgery. The specially designed MR-compatible flexible operating table for the MRXO suite reduces limitations on neurosurgeons during standard neurosurgical procedures. Also, it does not give rise to imaging artifacts on MRI. The specially designed MR-compatible flexible operating table resolves the neurosurgeon's dilemma over use of intraoperative MRI.

World's first magnetic resonance imaging/x-ray/operating room suite: a significant milestone in the improvement of neurosurgical diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECT: In February 2006, the magnetic resonance/x-ray/operating room (MRXO) suite opened at the authors' institution. This is the first hybrid neurosurgical procedure suite to combine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, computed tomography (CT), and angiography within a neurosurgical operating room (OR). In the present paper the authors describe the concept of the MRXO as well as their first 10 months of experience using this suite, and discuss its advantages and limitations. METHODS: In the MRXO suite, the combined OR and angiography (OR-angiography) station is located in the middle of the suite, and the MR imaging and CT scanning stations are each installed in an adjoining bay connected to the OR-angiography station by shielded sliding doors. The surgical, MR imaging, angiography, and CT tables are positioned in order of use. The patient lies on a fully MR imaging- and radiography-compatible mobile patient tabletop that is used to move the patient quickly and safely among the tables in the imaging and operating components of the MRXO suite. RESULTS: The authors performed all interventional procedures safely. The specially designed operating tabletop of the MRXO suite reduced the limitations on neurosurgeons during standard neurosurgical procedures. This hybrid suite helps to provide high-quality intraoperative imaging, greatly reducing the risk of unexpected events during the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The MRXO suite, which combines OR and imaging equipment, represents a significant milestone in the improvement of neurosurgical diagnosis and treatment and other interventional procedures. Another advantage of the MRXO suite is its cost-effectiveness, which is partly due to its streamlined imaging procedure.