Defining the role of surgery for patients with multiple brain metastases.

PURPOSE: To better define the role of surgery, we investigated survival and functional outcomes in patients with multiple brain metastases. METHODS: Pertinent clinical and radiological data of 131 consecutive patients (156 surgeries) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Surgical indications included mass effect (84.6%) and need for tissue acquisition (44.9%, for molecularly informed treatment: 10 patients). Major (i.e. CTCAE grade 3-5) neurological, surgical and medical complication were observed in 6 (3.8%), 12 (7.7%), and 12 (7.7%) surgical cases. Median preoperative and discharge KPS were 80% (IQF: 60-90%). Median overall survival (mOS) was 7.4 months. However, estimated 1 and 2 year overall survival rates were 35.6% and 25.1%, respectively. Survival was dismal (i.e. mOS ≤ 2.5 months) in patients who had no postoperative radio- and systemic therapy, or who incurred major complications. Multivariate analysis with all parameters significantly correlated with survival as univariate parameters revealed female sex, oligometastases, no major new/worsened neurological deficits, and postoperative radio- and systemic therapy as independent positive prognostic parameters. Univariate positive prognostic parameters also included histology (best survival in breast cancer patients) and less than median (0.28 cm3) residual tumor load. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is a reasonable therapeutic option in many patients with multiple brain metastases. Operations should primarily aim at reducing mass effect thereby preserving the patients' functional health status which will allow for further local (radiation) and systemic therapy. Surgery for the acquisition of metastatic tissue (more recently for molecularly informed treatment) is another important surgical indication. Cytoreductive surgery may also carry a survival benefit by itself.

Functional long-term outcome following endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the most effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO). Yet, long-term outcome (LTO) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in these patients have rarely been addressed, as opposed to modified Rankin scale (mRS) recordings. We analysed demographic data, treatment and neuroimaging parameters in 694 consecutive stroke patients in a maximum care hospital. In 138 of these patients with respect on receipt of written informed consent, LTO and HRQoL were collected over a period of 48 months after EVT using a standardised telephone survey (median 2.1 years after EVT). Age < 70 years (OR 4.82), lower NIHSS on admission (OR 1.11), NIHSS ≤ 10 after 24 h (OR 11.23) and complete recanalisation (mTICI3) (OR 7.79) were identified as independent predictors of favourable LTO. Occurrence of an infection requiring treatment within the first 72 h was recognised as a negative predictor for good long-term outcome (OR 0.22). Patients with mRS > 2 according to the telephone survey more often had complaints regarding mobility, self-care, and usual activity domains of the HRQoL. Our results underline a sustainable positive effect of effective EVT on the quality of life in LVO stroke. Additionally, predictive parameters of outcome were identified, that may support clinical decision making in LVO stroke.

Evaluation of the Effects of an Undenatured Collagen Type-2-Based Nutraceutical (ARTHROSHINE® HA²) on Recovery Time after TPLO in Dogs: A Prospective, Randomized Study with Objective Gait Analysis as the Primary Outcome Measure.

This randomized, prospective clinical trial investigates the impact of a novel undenatured collagen type 2 (T2NDC)-based nutraceutical, ARTHROSHINE® HA² (AS), on postoperative rehabilitation following Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) in 50 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). The patients were randomly allocated to either group A, receiving AS once daily for 24 weeks post-TPLO surgery, or group B, without any supplementation. Frequency matching was applied to enhance group comparability. Assessment of outcomes included computerized gait analysis and a validated owner questionnaire. AS supplementation was well received, without any reported side effect. Consistently, patients in group A exhibited significantly higher peak vertical force values during all follow-up assessments. By the 12-week mark, gait analysis indicated a return to a physiological gait pattern in group A, while group B achieved this normalization only by the 24-week point. The administration of AS post-TPLO surgery demonstrates promise in enhancing limb function, leading to faster restoration of a physiological gait pattern. The inclusion of AS, a T2NDC-based nutraceutical, in the post-TPLO rehabilitation protocol may contribute to improved limb function and an expedited recovery, potentially facilitating a quicker return to normalcy. It is noteworthy that subjective owner perceptions did not differ between the two groups.

The role of cytoreductive surgery in multifocal/multicentric glioblastomas.

PURPOSE: Multifocal/multicentric glioblastomas (mGBM) account for up to 20% of all newly diagnosed glioblastomas. The present study investigates the impact of cytoreductive surgery on survival and functional outcomes in patients with mGBM. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and imaging data of 71 patients with newly diagnosed primary (IDH1 wildtype) mGBM who underwent operative treatment in 2015-2020 at the authors' institution. Multicentric/multifocal growth was defined by the presence of ≥ 2 contrast enhancing lesions ≥ 1 cm apart from each other. RESULTS: 36 (50.7%) patients had a resection and 35 (49.3%) a biopsy procedure. MGMT status, age, preoperative KPI and NANO scores as well as the postoperative KPI and NANO scores did not differ significantly between resected and biopsied cases. Median overall survival was 6.4 months and varied significantly with the extent of resection (complete resection of contrast enhancing tumor: 13.6, STR: 6.4, biopsy: 3.4 months; P = 0.043). 21 (58.3%) of resected vs. only 12 (34.3%) of biopsied cases had radiochemotherapy (p = 0.022). Multivariate analysis revealed chemo- and radiotherapy and also (albeit with smaller hazard ratios) extent of resection (resection vs. biopsy) and multicentric growth as independent predictors of patient survival. Involvement of eleoquent brain regions, as well as neurodeficit rates and functional outcomes did not vary significantly between the biopsy and the resection cohorts. CONCLUSION: Resective surgery in mGBM is associated with better survival. This benefit seems to relate prominently to an increased number of patients being able to tolerate effective adjuvant therapies after tumor resections. In addition, cytoreductive surgery may have a survival impact per se.

The DERIVO®2 Embolization Device in the treatment of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms: A multicenter analysis.

BACKGROUND: Flow diverters are an increasingly used treatment option for intracranial aneurysms. A recent addition to the European market is the DERIVO®2 Embolization Device (DED2), promising improved radiopacity. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the DED2 regarding angiographic and clinical outcomes in ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms. METHODS: We performed a multicenter trial at six interventional centers. Data were prospectively collected and all patients treated with the DED2 were included. The primary endpoint was angiographic aneurysm occlusion at 6 months as assessed by the O'Kelly Marotta (OKM) grading scale with a favorable outcome definition of OKM C + D. Clinical outcome was evaluated according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS). RESULTS: Between August 2020 and July 2021, 37 patients were treated with the DED2 and were included in our analysis. Five patients presented with ruptured aneurysms. Median age was 60 years, 27 patients were female, and 10 male. Median mRS was 0 (range 0-4). Mean aneurysm size was 8.9 ± 7.1 mm with a mean neck size of 6.5 ± 6.1. The DED2 fully opened at deployment in all cases. Clinical follow-up was available for 30 patients (81%). Twenty-five (83%) had an mRS of 0 or 1. Three patients with ruptured aneurysms died during the follow-up period. No treatment-related major morbidity was observed. Follow-up imaging was available in 27 (90%) patients, with 23 patients (85%) showing satisfactory aneurysm occlusion OKM grade C-D. CONCLUSION: In this small cohort, the DED2 provided safe and effective treatment of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in COVID-19 patients: multicenter experience in 111 cases.

BACKGROUND: Data on the frequency and outcome of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) in patients with COVID-19 is limited. Addressing this subject, we report our multicenter experience. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of consecutive acute stroke patients with COVID-19 infection treated with MT at 26 tertiary care centers between January 2020 and November 2021. Baseline demographics, angiographic outcome and clinical outcome evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge and 90 days were noted. RESULTS: We identified 111 out of 11 365 (1%) patients with acute or subsided COVID-19 infection who underwent MT due to LVO. Cardioembolic events were the most common etiology for LVO (38.7%). Median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score were 16 (IQR 11.5-20) and 9 (IQR 7-10), respectively. Successful reperfusion (mTICI ≥2b) was achieved in 97/111 (87.4%) patients and 46/111 (41.4%) patients were reperfused completely. The procedure-related complication rate was 12.6% (14/111). Functional independence was achieved in 20/108 (18.5%) patients at discharge and 14/66 (21.2%) at 90 days follow-up. The in-hospital mortality rate was 30.6% (33/108). In the subgroup analysis, patients with severe acute COVID-19 infection requiring intubation had a mortality rate twice as high as patients with mild or moderate acute COVID-19 infection. Acute respiratory failure requiring ventilation and time interval from symptom onset to groin puncture were independent predictors for an unfavorable outcome in a logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a poor clinical outcome and high mortality, especially in patients with severe acute COVID-19 infection undergoing MT due to LVO.

Surgical Treatment of Cerebellar Metastases: Survival Benefits, Complications and Timing Issues.

We retrospectively studied 73 consecutive patients who underwent surgery 2015-2020 for removal of cerebellar metastases (CM). Median overall survival (medOS) varied widely between patients and compared favorably with the more recent literature (9.2, 25-75% IQR: 3.2-21.7 months vs. 5-8 months). Prognostic factors included clinical (but not radiological) hydrocephalus (medOS 11.3 vs. 5.2 months, p = 0.0374). Of note, a third of the patients with a KPI <70% or multiple metastases survived >12 months. Chemotherapy played a prominent prognostic role (medOS 15.5 vs. 2.3, p < 0.0001) possibly reflecting advances in treating systemic vis-à-vis controlled CNS disease. Major neurological (≥30 days), surgical and medical complications (CTCAE III-V) were observed in 8.2%, 13.7%, and 9.6%, respectively. The occurrence of a major complication markedly reduced survival (10.7 vs. 2.5 months, p = 0.020). The presence of extracerebral metastases did not significantly influence OS. Postponing staging was not associated with more complications or shorter survival. Together these data argue for individualized decision making which includes offering surgery in selected cases with a presumably adverse prognosis and also occasional urgent operations in cases without a preoperative oncological work-up. Complication avoidance is of utmost importance.

Malignant transformation of a unicameral bone cyst in a cat.

A unicameral bone cyst in the proximal humerus of a 3-year-old Norwegian forest cat was diagnosed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, surgical exploration, and histopathology. Surgical curettage and incorporation of bone cement led to full recovery. An osteosarcoma developed at the surgical site 17 months later. Thoracic radiographs showed pulmonary lesions consistent with metastasis.

Transformation maligne d'un kyste osseux unicaméral chez un chat. Un kyste osseux unicaméral dans l'humérus proximal d'un chat des forêts norvégiennes âgé de 3 ans a été diagnostiqué par imagerie à résonance magnétique avec injection d'un agent de contraste, l'exploration chirurgicale et l'histopathologie. Un curettage chirurgical et l'incorporation de ciment osseux ont produit un rétablissement complet. Un ostéosarcome s'est développé au site chirurgical 17 mois plus tard. Les radiographies thoraciques ont montré des lésions pulmonaires conformes à la métastase.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).