Extra-Neural Metastases From Primary Intracranial Ependymomas: A Systematic Review.

Background: Primary intracranial ependymomas (IE) are rare brain tumors rarely metastasizing outside the central nervous system. We systematically reviewed the literature on extra-neural metastases from primary IEs. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web-of-Science, and Cochrane were searched following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies of extra-neural metastases from primary IEs. Clinical features, management strategies, and survival were analyzed. Results: We collected 48 patients from 43 studies. Median age was 13 years (range, 2-65). Primary IEs were frequently located in the parietal (22.9%) and frontal (16.7%) lobes, and mostly treated with resection (95.8%) and/or radiotherapy (62.5%). Most IEs were of grade-III (79.1%), and few of grade-I (6.3%) or grade-II (14.6%). 45 patients experienced intracranial recurrences, mostly treated with resection (86.7%), radiotherapy (60%), and/or chemotherapy (24.4%). Median time-interval from primary IEs was 28 months (range, 0-140). Most extra-neural metastases were diagnosed at imaging (37.5%) or autopsy (35.4%). Extra-neural metastases were multifocal in 38 patients (79.1%), mostly involving cervical or hilar lymph-nodes (66.7%), lung/pleura (47.9%), and/or scalp (29.1%). Surgical resection (31.3%), chemotherapy (31.3%) and locoregional radiotherapy (18.8%) were the most common treatments for extra-neural metastases, but 28 (58.3%) patients were not treated. At last follow-up, 37 patients died with median overall-survivals from primary IEs of 36 months (range, 1-239), and from extra-neural metastases of 3 months (range, 0.1-36). Overall-survival was significantly longer in patients with grade-I and II IEs (P=0.040). Conclusion: Extra-neural metastases from primary IEs are rare, but mostly occur at later disease stages. Multidisciplinary management strategies should be intended mostly for palliation.

Optimizing the onco-functional balance in supratentorial brain tumour surgery: A single institution's initial experience with intraoperative cortico-subcortical mapping and monitoring in Singapore.

Intraoperative cortical mapping provides functional information that permits the safe and maximal resection of supratentorial lesions infiltrating the so-called eloquent cortex or subcortical white matter tracts. Primary and secondary brain tumours located in eloquent cortex can render surgical treatment ineffective if it results in new or worsening neurology. A cohort of forty-six consecutive patients with supratentorial tumours of variable pathology involving eloquent cortical regions and aided with intraoperative neurophysiology were included for retrospective analysis at a single-centre tertiary institution. Intraoperative neurophysiological data has been related to immediate post-operative neurologic status as well as 3-month follow-up in patients that underwent awake or asleep surgical resection. Patients that experienced new or worsening neurologic symptoms post-operatively demonstrated a high incidence of recovery at 3-months. Those without new neurologic symptoms post-operatively demonstrated little to no worsening at 3-months. Our study explored the extent to which cortical mapping permitted safe surgical resection whilst preserving neurologic function. To the authors' knowledge this is the first documented case series in Singapore that has incorporated a systematic and individually tailored multimodal workflow to cortico-subcortical mapping and monitoring for the safe resection of infiltrative lesions of the supratentorial region.

Intradural Spinal Tumors-Review of Postoperative Outcomes Comparing Intramedullary and Extramedullary Tumors from a Single Institution's Experience.

BACKGROUND: Intradural spinal tumors are rare and can be classified into extramedullary or intramedullary. They commonly present with symptoms such as intractable back pain or neurologic deficits. We retrospectively reviewed 91 cases of intradural spinal tumors that underwent surgery in our institution from 2011 to 2016 and assessed their clinical outcomes. The majority of intradural tumors were extramedullary (89%), and the most common pathology was schwannoma (38.5%) followed by meningioma (29.7%). Comparing extramedullary versus intramedullary tumors, both groups experienced similar improvement in neurologic status post surgery (92.6% vs. 90%, P = 0.77). We achieved gross total resection in the majority of patients with both extramedullary and intramedullary tumors (65.4% vs. 70%, P = 0.91). Patients younger than 65 years (odds ratio [OR] 4.40, confidence interval [CI] 0.72-26.9, P = 0.11) and those who had complete resection of tumor (OR 2.92, CI 0.61-14.0, P = 0.18) were associated with higher odds of improved clinical outcomes, but the results were not statistically significant. The use of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring was not associated with improved neurologic outcomes compared with cases where it was not used (OR 0.56, CI 0.10-3.05, P = 0.50).