Novel, braided, self-expandable stent designed for the treatment of pulsatile tinnitus caused by intracranial venous stenosis: first-in-human experience and long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) can be a disabling clinical condition, which may be caused by a sigmoid/transverse sinus stenosis (STSS). Intracranial venous stenting with off-label carotid or peripheral venous stents has been used successfully to treat this condition. We present the results of a cohort of patients presenting with PT treated with a novel, dedicated, braided stent for the endovascular treatment of STSS. METHODS: Twelve patients presenting with PT and associated STSS were treated at our institution (December 2022-June 2023). All clinical and procedural variables were prospectively collected. We used the Tinnitus Function Index (TFI) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores to assess the impact of PT on quality of life before and after the treatment (mean follow-up: 10.3 months). RESULTS: Twelve women (mean age: 44±16.5 years) presenting with PT and STSS were treated. Mean pretreatment TFI/THI scores were 78.8/77. The BosStent was successfully deployed in all patients. We experienced no intraprocedural/postoperative complications. Intra-stent angioplasty was performed in three cases. All patients reported a complete resolution of PT symptoms within 1 month and remained stable and PT-free at the last follow-up (mean posttreatment TFI/THI score: 7.1/5, p<0001). CONCLUSIONS: The BosStent was successfully used in a cohort of patients with PT without any intraprocedural complications. All the patients experienced a complete resolution of PT symptoms after 1 month, which was stable during the follow-up period. Further studies with larger populations will be necessary to investigate the safety and effectiveness of this novel stent for the treatment of PT with STSS.

Venous balloon test occlusion for pulsatile tinnitus assessment: A clinical feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) can have huge impact on the patients' quality of life and can be associated with curable vascular anomalies. In the present study, we aim firstly to describe our protocol for venous BTO and secondly to report possible predictors for a positive BTO test. METHODS: All consecutive PT patients undergoing BTO for the purpose of determining eligibility for venous neuro-intervention were included. We recommend BTO for patients when there is uncertainty in the association of the venous pathology identified on non-invasive cross-sectional imaging (CTV or MRV) and the patient's symptoms. RESULTS: Between May 2016 and October 2022, we recorded 29 venous balloon test occlusions fulfilling our inclusions criteria. Over the 29 procedures scheduled, 8 finally did not lead to a successful balloon test occlusion. The main reason was that the patient did not hear the PT on the day the angiogram was performed. Two patients could not have the BTO due to difficulties in venous navigation. After BTO, only four patients of our cohort were scheduled for an endovascular treatment. CONCLUSION: We describe a technique and present a single cohort of venous BTO in severe PT patients with unclear anatomical cause. This angiographic test was useful to exclude patients from endovascular surgery and discuss the most probable cause of the PT. Complexity of vascular PT should support a patient-based approach when discussing interventional treatment.

Outcomes of surgically treated giant pituitary tumours.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with giant pituitary tumours (GPTs) who underwent a purely binasal endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (BETS) and compare their outcomes with those achieved through craniotomy and microscopic transsphenoidal surgery (MTS). METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients with GPTs (greater than 10 cm3 in volume) who were treated surgically with BETS, craniotomy, or MTS from October 1994 to July 2009 were reviewed for clinical outcomes, degree of tumor resection, recurrence rates, and surgical complications. RESULTS: The BETS group had significantly better mean reduction of tumor volume (91%) than the craniotomy (63%, p = 0.001), and the MTS (63%, p = 0.010) groups. Gross total resection rates were also higher for BETS patients than for craniotomy patients (p = 0.010). Improvements in vision and headaches were noted in 96% and 100% of patients in the BETS group, respectively; these rates were similar to those in the craniotomy and MTS groups. Of the four patients with hormone-secreting tumours in the BETS group, three remained in remission. The median length-of-stay (four days) for the BETS group was shorter (p = 0.010), and surgical complications were less frequent (p = 0.037) and less severe compared to the craniotomy group. There were no differences in the recurrence rates: 79% percent of patients in the BETS group, 69% in the craniotomy group, and 79% in the MTS group were recurrence free at last follow-up (p = 0.829). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of GPT with BETS offers excellent oncologic and clinical outcomes and can frequently obviate the need for craniotomy in these patients.

The Role of Growth Hormone in Depression: A Human Model.

BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between acromegaly and depression has been ascribed to the effects of chronic disease, the role of growth hormone (GH), and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is not clear. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether related hormones levels in acromegalics are correlated with depressive symptoms and whether these symptoms are ameliorated following surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients diagnosed with acromegaly (n = 15) or non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA; n = 20, as controls) and undergoing first-time surgery, who completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) questionnaire both pre-surgery and post-surgery. The primary outcome was the patient's severity of depression symptomatology using the CES-D score; GH, IGF-1 levels, and tumor characteristics were also measured. RESULTS: Hormone levels (GH and IGF-1) and depression scores in acromegaly patients showed significant reductions following surgery (p < 0.05). The average change in CES-D score was 5.73 ± 2.58 (mean ± SE). A moderate correlation was found between GH levels and CES-D scores (r = 0.52, p < 0.01). The depressed affect subscale accounted for the most improvement in CES-D scores postoperatively and correlated most highly with GH levels. We did not find similar declines in the matched cohort of NFPA patients. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Surgical resection of the pituitary tumor in acromegaly patients leads to reduction in GH levels that is correlated with reduction in CES-D scores. The results suggest a role for GH in depression and provide a stronger foundation on which to build the hypothesis that GH impacts affect. The study also suggests that hormones should be factored into the matrix that entails the neuro-biological underpinnings of depressive disorders. Future work could explore the mechanisms involved, further brain and neuropeptide interactions, and, novel potential therapeutic targets in depressive and other mental health disorders.