The impact of surgical resection on headache disability and quality of life in patients with colloid cyst.

Introduction Colloid cysts are histologically benign but can present with a broad spectrum of symptoms. A systematic review of the literature did not reveal any patient-centered data on the headache disability and quality of life (QoL) of these patients. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 187 colloid cyst patients from the Colloid Cyst Survival Group who completed a survey that included demographic data, clinical data, a modified QoL survey (SF36v2), and a headache disability inventory or index (HDI). Results Using multivariable linear regressions, we confirmed that the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components of SF-36 were significantly increased in the surgery group after adjustment for various baseline characteristics ( p = 0.025; p = 0.006). Self-reported headache disability was significantly decreased with surgery when adjusted for the same baseline characteristics ( p = 0.02). Finally, patients with an incidental diagnosis of colloid cyst reported similar benefits from surgery in PCS, MCS and HDI. Conclusion Our results suggest that colloid cyst patients who underwent a surgical resection self-report a better QoL and less headache disability compared with patients who did not undergo surgery. Future prospective studies with baseline measures of QoL are indicated to confirm our findings.

Exploring the Impact of Storytelling for Hospitalized Patients Recovering from COVID-19.

There are mental and physical deficits associated with COVID-19 infection, particularly among individuals requiring hospitalization. Storytelling is a relational intervention that has been used to help patients make sense of their illness experiences and to share their experiences with others, including other patients, families and healthcare providers. Relational interventions strive to create positive, healing stories versus negative ones. In one urban acute care hospital, an initiative called the Patient Stories Project (PSP) uses storytelling as a relational intervention to promote patient healing, including the development of healthier relationships among themselves, with families and with healthcare providers. This qualitative study employed a series of interview questions that were collaboratively developed with patient partners and COVID-19 survivors. The questions asked consenting COVID-19 survivors about why they chose to tell their stories and to flesh out more about their recovery process. Thematic analyses of six participant interviews resulted in the identification of key themes along a COVID-19 recovery pathway. Patients' stories revealed how survivors progress from being overwhelmed by their symptoms to making sense of what is happening to them, providing feedback to their care providers, feeling gratitude for care received, becoming aware of a new state of normal, regaining control of their lives, and ultimately discovering meaning and an important lesson behind their illness experience. Our study's findings suggest that the PSP storytelling approach holds potential as a relational intervention to support COVID-19 survivors along a recovery journey. This study also adds knowledge about survivors beyond the first few months of recovery.

Disease characteristics and patterns of familial colloid cyst of the third ventricle: An international survey of the Colloid Cyst Survivors Group.

BACKGROUND: Colloid cysts of the third ventricle are rare benign tumors, accounting for approximately 1% of all intracranial tumors. Familial colloid cysts are less common, only 25 cases have been previously reported in the literature. We aim to describe demographic and disease-specific characteristics to reduce the knowledge gap with this potentially life-threatening tumor. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 211 colloid cyst patients from the Colloid Cyst Survivors Group who completed a survey that included demographicandclinical data andinquired aboutfamily members diagnosed with a colloid cyst. Datawascollected from October 14th, 2021 to October 27th, 2021. We compared our data with previously published cases from the literature. RESULTS: A total of 211 responses from patients with a previous diagnosis of a colloid cyst completed our survey. 11.8 % were familial colloid cysts, of this group 60.8 % were symptomatic and 39.2 % incidental. We observed significant difference between symptom incidence between reports from the literature and our cohort: headache 75.5 % versus 49 % (p = 0.005); imbalance 13.2 % versus 31.4 % (p = 0.03); nausea 11.3 % versus 29.4 % (p = 0.02), and difficulty walking 1.9 % versus 19.6 % (p = 0.003). Additionally, we found first degree family member as the most frequent relative diagnosed with this disease. CONCLUSION: Our study involved the largestcohortof patients with familial colloid cysts. According to previous literature, siblings are the most prevalent family member affected by this disease, specifically among monozygotic twins. This suggests strong inheritance patterns and even genetic mechanism underlying the development of this disease.