Efficacy and long-term results of endovascular embolization and surgical clipping for posterior communicating artery unruptured aneurysms complicated with oculomotor nerve palsy.

THIS STUDY AIMED: to investigate the efficacy and long-term outcomes of endovascular embolization and surgical clipping for patients with posterior communicating artery unruptured aneurysms (PcomAs) concomitant with oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP). No significant (P > .05) difference existed in the age, gender, proportion of complete ONP, and size of eye fissure and pupil before treatment between 2 groups. After compared with before treatment, the eye fissure was widened significantly (P < .05) and the pupil narrowed significantly (P < .05), but no significant (P > .05) differences existed between the 2 groups. Complete ONP recovery was observed in 32 (80%) patients in the embolization group and 31 (77.5%) in the microsurgical group, partial ONP recovery occurred in 6 (15%) in the embolization group and 8 (20%) in the microsurgical group. The recovery rate was 95% in the embolization group and 97.5% in the microsurgical group, with no significant (P > .05) difference between 2 groups. The recovery rate of the ONP was significantly (P < .01) greater in the microsurgical group than that in the embolization group at follow-up of 1 month, 3 months, six and 12 months, respectively. At 18 months, the ONP recovery rate was not significantly different between 2 groups (95% vs 97.5%) Surgical clipping may have a faster effect on the recovery of oculomotor nerve palsy than endovascular embolization for patients with posterior communicating artery unruptured aneurysms complicated with oculomotor nerve palsy, but both approaches may result in a similar effect on the nerve recovery in the long run.Eighty patients treated with endovascular embolization or surgical clipping were retrospectively enrolled into the endovascular embolization group or surgical clipping and analyzed.

Prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with molecularly targeted drugs combined with radiotherapy vs temozolomide monotherapy: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GB) is one of the most common malignancies with limited standard therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy (RT) plus temozolomide (TMZ). Molecularly targeted drugs have been investigated among various clinical trials and are expected to develop in the field of tumor therapy, while the efficacy remains uncertain due to limited previous results. Thus, we focus on the evaluation of molecularly targeted drugs to clarify its overall effectiveness in terms of treating newly diagnosed GB. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for eligible literatures updated to April 2018. Randomized-controlled trials were included to assess the efficacy and safety of molecularly targeted drugs in patients with newly diagnosed GB. The main outcomes were further calculated including the following parameters: PFS (progression-free survival), OS (overall survival) as well as AEs (adverse events). All data were pooled along with their 95% confidence interval using RevMan software. Sensitivity analyses and heterogeneity were evaluated quantitatively. RESULTS: The combination of molecularly targeted drugs with TMZ + RT had no significant effects on OS (OR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.89-1.04, P = .36). Meanwhile, the combination regimen significantly improved the PFS of patients with newly diagnosed GB (OR = 0.86 ,95% CI 0.75-0.98, P = .02). The rate of AEs (OR = 1.68,95%CI = 1.44-1.97, P < .00001) was higher in patients receiving molecularly targeted drugs, which was comparable to the contemporary group. CONCLUSION: Longer PFS and a higher rate of AEs were observed with the addition of molecularly targeted drugs to standard chemoradiation in patients harboring newly diagnosed GB. Nevertheless, compared with the control arm, the regimen did not significantly prolong OS.

Multiple intracranial aneurysms: endovascular treatment and complications.

This study evaluated the results of endovascular embolization of multiple intracranial aneurysms. A retrospective hospital chart and radiograph review were made of all patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms seen between March 2010 and January 2011. Ten patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, four with mass effect, two with brain ischemia and twenty were incidental. These 36 patients harbored 84 aneurysms, 63 of which were treated with endovascular techniques, two by surgical clipping, and 19 were left untreated. Of the coil-treated lesions, a complete endovascular occlusion was achieved in 54 aneurysms (85.7%), and eight (12.7%) presented neck remnants with one (1.6%) stented only. Twenty-six patients (72.2%) underwent coil embolization of more than one aneurysm in the first session. Follow-up angiographic studies in 31 patients demonstrated an unchanged or improved result in 93.0% of the aneurysms (53 lesions) and coil compaction in 7.0% (four lesions). The overall clinical outcome was excellent in 33 patients (91.7%), good in one (2.8%) and fair in two (5.5%). Endovascular techniques may be a particularly suitable method for treating multiple intracranial aneurysms.