DTI fiber-tracking parameters adjacent to gliomas: the role of tract irregularity value in operative planning, resection, and outcome.

PURPOSE: The goal of glioma surgery is maximal tumor resection associated with minimal post-operative morbidity. Diffusion tensor imaging-tractography/fiber tracking (DTI-FT) is a valuable white-matter (WM) visualization tool for diagnosis and surgical planning. Still, it assumes a descriptive role since the main DTI metrics and parameters showed several limitations in clinical use. New applications and quantitative measurements were recently applied to describe WM architecture that surround the tumor area. The brain adjacent tumor area (BAT) is defined as the region adjacent to the gross tumor volume, which contains signal abnormalities on T2-weighted or FLAIR sequences. The DTI-FT analysis of the BAT can be adopted as predictive values and a guide for safe tumor resection. METHODS: This is an observational prospective study on an extensive series of glioma patients who performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with pre-operative DTI-FT analyzed on the BAT by two different software. We examined DTI parameters of Fractional anisotropy (FA mean, min-max), Mean diffusivity (MD), and the shape-metric "tract irregularity" (TI) grade, comparing it with the surgical series' clinical, radiological, and outcome data. RESULTS: The population consisted of 118 patients, with a mean age of 60.6 years. 82 patients suffering from high-grade gliomas (69.5%), and 36 from low-grade gliomas (30.5%). A significant inverse relationship exists between the FA mean value and grading (p = 0.001). The relationship appears directly proportional regarding MD values (p = 0.003) and TI values (p = 0.005). FA mean and MD values are susceptible to significant variations with tumor and edema volume (p = 0.05). TI showed an independent relationship with grading regardless of tumor radiological features and dimensions, with a direct relationship with grading, ki67% (p = 0,05), PFS (p < 0.001), and EOR (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: FA, MD, and TI are useful predictive measures of the clinical behavior of glioma, and TI could be helpful for tumor grading identification and surgical planning.

The Prognostic Impact of Progesteron-Receptor Expression in Surgical Intracranial Meningioma on Performance Status and Quality of Life: A Single-Center Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between meningiomas and gonadal steroid hormones has been the subject of debate, and there is limited understanding of the connection between patient, tumor characteristics, and progesterone receptor (PGR) status. METHODS: This retrospective observational study aims to explore the prognostic correlation between PGR+ and PGR-meningiomas in terms of various clinical, radiological, and surgical predictors. The analysis included 270 patients, divided into 2 groups: group A (PGR-, 194 patients), and group B (PGR+, 76 patients). RESULTS: The analysis showed no significant differences in terms of age, sex, clinical debut, postsurgical complications, total resection, and grading between the 2 groups. However, a significant difference was observed in the mean Karnofsky performance status at all stages of follow-up. Peritumoral edema measured in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging significantly influences the value of Karnofsky performance status in both preoperative (ANOVA, P = 0.05) and postoperative evaluation (postoperative ANOVA, P = 0.014) only in group A. In the multivariate analysis, there are no significant factors related to the clinical, biological, and surgical parameters previously examined for each measurement time (P = 0.826). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that PGR + meningioma patients tend to have better postoperative recovery and earlier clinical debut without any association with age prevalence or grading.

Clinical, Radiologic, and Surgical Features of Brain Metastases in Colorectal Cancer. A Strong Correlation Between Surgical Patterns and Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases (BMs) from colorectal cancer (CRC) are a small percentage of metastatic patients and surgery is considered the best choice to improve survival. While most research has focused on the risk of CRC spreading to the brain, no studies have examined the characteristics of BMs in relation to surgery and outcome. In this study, we evaluate the clinical and radiologic features of BMs from CRC patients who underwent surgery and analyze their outcomes. METHODS: The study is a retrospective observational analysis that included a cohort of 31 patients affected by CRC surgically-treated for their related BMs. For all patients, clinical and surgical data (number, site, side, tumor and edema volume, and morphology) were recorded. RESULTS: Analysis found that synchronous diagnosis and lesion morphology, particularly cystic versus solid, had the most significant impact on survival (6 vs. 22 months, P = 0.04). To compare BMs with cystic morphology to those with solid morphology, a multivariate analysis was conducted. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of age, sex, clinical onset, or performance status. The analysis revealed no significant differences in localization with regard to site, tumor and edema volume, biology, or complications rate. CONCLUSIONS: BMs derived from CRC have a significantly different prognosis depending on whether they present as a solid or cystic pattern. Although solid pattern is more common, cystic BMs in this tumor type are less frequent and are associated with a poorer prognosis, regardless of molecular expression, location, size, and adjuvant treatment.

Anamnestic radiological metastases outcome surgical score (ARMO-S). A purpose of a predictive surgical scoring system for brain metastases.

BACKGROUND: Several risk stratification scores have been suggested to aid prognostication and guide treatment strategies for brain metastases (BMs). However, the current scores do not focus on the specific neurosurgical population, therefore not predicting short-term mortality and postoperative performance status. METHODS: This retrospective observational study of 362 consecutive patients treated with surgery for BMs aims to identify the factors associated with post-surgical outcomes and propose a surgery-specific prognostic score for patients with BMs candidate for open surgery. RESULTS: Factors significantly associated with OS and performance status in multivariate analysis were age, KPS, surgical site, synchronous debut of BM, number, tumor volume, seizure, extra-cranial metastases, and deep-seated location. The variables were incorporated into the Anamnestic Radiological Metastases Outcome Surgical score (ARMO-S). The values range between 0 and 10. Patients were divided into two groups (low-risk and high-risk) based on each significant subgroup's median survival and performance status with an optimal cutoff value determined as 4. The two groups have significant differences in OS (9.6 versus 14 months, p = 0.0048) postoperative KPS (90 versus 70, p = 0.012) and KPS at last follow-up evaluation (75 versus 30, p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: ARMO-S is a simple and comprehensive score for BM patients selected for neurosurgery, as it incorporates the main factors of the most important prognostic scores, implementing them with more surgery-specific predictive elements such as tumor location and volume, presence of seizures at onset, and involvement of eloquent brain areas.

Brain metastases: Comparing clinical radiological differences in patients with lung and breast cancers treated with surgery.

Purpose: Brain metastases (BMs) most frequently originate from the primary tumors of the lung and breast. Survival in patients with BM can improve if they are detected early. No studies attempt to consider all potential surgical predictive factors together by including clinical, radiological variables for their recognition. Methods: The study aims to simultaneously analyze all clinical, radiologic, and surgical variables on a cohort of 314 patients with surgically-treated BMs to recognize the main features and differences between the two histotypes. Results: The two groups consisted of 179 BM patients from lung cancer (Group A) and 135 patients from breast cancer (Group B). Analysis showed that BMs from breast carcinoma are more likely to appear in younger patients, tend to occur in the infratentorial site and are frequently found in patients who have other metastases outside of the brain (46 %, p = 0.05), particularly in bones. On the other hand, BMs from lung cancer often occur simultaneously with primitive diagnosis, are more commonly cystic, and have a larger edema volume. However, no differences were found in the extent of resection, postoperative complications or the presence of decreased postoperative performance status. Conclusion: The data presented in this study reveal that while the two most prevalent forms of BM exhibit distinctions with respect to clinical onset, age, tumor location, presence of extra-cranial metastases, and lesion morphology from a strictly surgical standpoint, they are indistinguishable with regard to outcome, demonstrating comparable resection rates and a low risk of complications.

En Bloc Resection of Solitary Brain Metastasis: The Role of Perilesional Edema.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The treatment of solitary brain metastasis is a challenging intervention since the incidence increases and prognosis is poor. This study investigated the role of perilesional edema in the overall mass effect of solitary brain metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 88 patients with single supratentorial brain metastasis and concomitant perilesional edema undergoing en bloc resection. Each patient was evaluated for perilesional brain edema grading. We stratified patients into three groups based on the size of the metastatic lesion and the extent of perilesional edema. RESULTS: The grade of perilesional edema at 30 days after surgical removal did not correlate with the maximum diameter of the metastasis (Pearson's correlation 0.098, p=0.494). In patients with a maximal metastatic diameter ≤2 cm, the grade of perilesional edema before surgical treatment was 1.63 (STD 0.43), while 30 days after removal it was significantly reduced; 0.47 (STD 0.26), p<0.001. CONCLUSION: The overall mass effect of solitary supratentorial brain metastases is not correlated to the size of the lesion and the grade of the associated perilesional edema should be considered. Surgical en bloc resection can be considered the first choice of treatment in the presence of solitary metastasis ≤2 cm in maximal diameter but with high-grade edema, since this treatment reduces the overall mass effect.

Visual Aura Secondary to Supratentorial Lipomatous Meningioma: A Rare Case Report.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Lipomatous meningioma is a rare type of meningioma that is formed as the result of an accumulation of lipids inside the cell due to metabolic activity dysregulation. It differs from other types of meningiomas in its radiological and immunohistochemical characteristics. We report a rare case of a patient treated in our department for this particular type of meningioma who developed a type of migraine with the aura component as the first clinical symptom. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old woman presented with a migraine and reported having phosphenes in recent years. Head Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were performed; these showed an extensive hypodense and hypointense formation located in the left parieto-occipital region. This formation was implanted in the tentorium region, with a prevailingly adipose-type signal intensity. The patient underwent an occipital craniotomy with the total removal of the lesion. The histological examination indicated a lipomatous metaplastic meningioma. CONCLUSION: We reported the first case of a lipomatous meningioma presenting with a migraine with a visual aura. Seizures and headaches can be included as possible symptoms. According to the current literature, lipomatous meningiomas affect women more commonly than men. The patient of our reported case presented visual disturbances in the form of a visual aura, which occurred 10 years before finding the meningioma, and surgery dramatically improved the symptoms and quality of life.

Post-traumatic intracranial pseudo-aneurysms of posterior circulation: a comprehensive review of an under-diagnosed and rare entity.

Traumatic aneurysms are rare and the total number of cases involving the posterior circulation (TIPC) is even smaller. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be responsible not only of rupture in brain aneurysm (BrA) pre-existing to trauma, but it has been identified also as a possible pathogenetic cause of TIPC formation in patients not affected by intracranial vascular lesions. A complete literature review was performed of all reported cases regarding rupture of BrA with SAH resulting from TIPC not previously identified at the first radiological screening. A representative case of a left posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) pseudo-aneurysm caused by left vertebral artery's dissection is reported. We show a unique complete collection of all 34 cases. Despite their rarity, TIPCs are associated with a significant morbidity and mortality rate, as high as 40-60%. Of the 22 patients with good neurological status (64.7%), we did not notice a significant correlation with regard to the location of the aneurysm, type of treatment, or clinical onset. Early recognition of a pseudo-aneurysm and adequate treatment seem to be the most important prognostic factor for these patients. Despite their rarity, TIPCs are associated with a significant morbidity and mortality rate. A TIPC should be suspected in case of delayed deterioration in head-injured patient and should be investigated with angiography. Conservative management is worsened by poor prognosis and the goal of treatment is to exclude the aneurysm from circulation with surgical or endovascular methods as soon as possible.

Lipomatous Meningioma: Clinical-Pathological Findings, Imaging Characterisation and Correlations of a Rare Type of Meningioma.

Lipomatous meningioma (LM) is a form of metaplasia, originating from intracellular lipid bodies accumulation due to metabolic alterations. A comprehensive literature review was performed introducing further elements of evaluation. The parameters utilized were age, sex, location, clinical presentation, imaging features, treatment, and recurrences. Seizure and headache are the primary onsets of symptoms. Further LM clinical features, such as visual disturbances and visual epileptic seizures were examined. Symptoms may occur ten years prior to LM finding and it can resolve completely with the indicated surgery. LM computed tomography imaging analysis reveals hypodense regions due to the presence of fat content. On magnetic resonance imaging, the lesion displays hyperintense signal in T1-T2 with signal loss in the fat-suppression sequences. Immunohistochemically, lipidized meningioma cells are positive for Epithelial-Membrane Antigen, Vimentin, CD99, S-100 protein, and progesterone receptor. The recurrence risk rate of LM is estimated to be around 17%. Precise immune-histological findings have been correlated with imaging features to help with early diagnosis. A defined diagnosis of LM is a crucial factor in the choice of treatment.

Radiation-Induced Brain Aneurysms: Institutional Experience and State of the Art in the Contemporary Literature.

BACKGROUND: Brain aneurysms (BAs) are the most common intracranial vascular condition, with an overall incidence of 1%-2%. Among the common causes of their initial formation and growth, the role of radiation therapy (RT) has been reported in some studies. The aim of the present study is to report the most relevant features of BA related to a previous cranial RT. METHODS: Data deriving from 1 patient treated for RT-induced BA in our institution were added to reports of another 66 BAs retrieved from the literature. The following parameters were evaluated: age, sex, location, primary lesion, clinical presentation, dosage/amount of radiation delivered, type of treatment for the BA, dimension, morphology, chemotherapy, comorbidities, risk factors, and number of BAs. RESULTS: The most commonly involved vessel was the internal carotid artery (34%). In general, the anterior circulation showed higher vulnerability compared with the posterior circulation and middle cerebral artery (56.7%). The average latency between RT and the first imaging showing the BA was 9.01 ± 6.85 years. Vessels coursing in the posterior cranial fossa showed a significant univariate association with lower X-ray dosages (P = 0.014) compared with the other locations. No statistically significant correlation between the continuous variables age, latency of BA appearance, RT delivered dose, and dimension of the BA was shown. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent higher fragility of the vascular structures of the posterior cranial fossa was statistically outlined, and the X-ray dosage, the primary condition target of the RT, the age of the patients, and no statistically significant correlation were outlined. Biological factors could play a significant role.