IDH1 mutation is associated with improved resection rates, progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with anaplastic astrocytomas.

PURPOSE: The introduction of molecular markers in to the diagnosis of gliomas has changed the therapeutic approach to this tumors. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of surgery on anaplastic astrocytomas (AA), which has not previously been fully elucidated. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving a total of 143 patients who underwent surgery for primary AA in our department between 1995 and 2020. RESULTS: Total tumor resection was achieved more often in patients with IDH-mutant tumors (41.09%) than in patients with IDH-wildtype tumors (30.76%). The median PFS was 1876 days for patients with IDH1 mutations and 238 days for patients with IDH-wildtype tumors. The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year PFS were longer in patients with total tumor resection and IDH-mutant AA (86.2%, 69%, 65.5% and 44.8%, respectively) than in patients with subtotal tumor resection and IDH-mutant AA (83.3%, 55.6%, 41.7% and 25%, respectively) and even longer compared to all IDH-wildtype tumors. The median OS was 2472 days for patients with IDH1 mutations and 434 days for patients with IDH-wildtype tumors. The 3-, 5- and 10-year OS times were longer in patients with total tumor resection and IDH-mutant AA (89.2%, 85.2% and 72.6%, respectively) than in patients with subtotal tumor resection and IDH-mutant AA (85.9%, 73.7% and 52.6%, respectively) and were even longer compared to all IDH-wildtype tumors. CONCLUSION: Total tumor resection is more common with IDH-mutant AA than with IDH-wildtype tumors. Patients with IDH-mutant AA had significantly better PFS and OS after total tumor resection than after subtotal tumor resection and biopsy.

Risks and neurological benefits of meningioma surgery in elderly patients compared to young patients.

INTRODUCTION: While surgery is the primary treatment choice for intracranial meningiomas in young patients, surgery in elderly patients, especially those with pre-existing comorbidities, has been the subject of repeated discussion. This study investigated the postoperative risks and neurological benefits of meningioma surgery in elderly patients compared to young patients. METHODS: In total, 768 patients were included and divided into two main groups: group I (age: ≤ 64 years; 484 young patients) and group II (age: ≥ 65 years; 284 elderly patients). Group II was subdivided into: IIa (age: 65-69 years), IIb (age: 70-79 years); and IIc (age: ≥ 80 years). RESULTS: The total tumor resection rate was higher in the elderly cohort than in the young cohort (84.5 and 76.2%, respectively). 154 young patients (31.8%) and 132 elderly patients (46.5%) developed postoperative morbidities, with the three most common being bleeding (12.9%), cranial nerve disorder (10%) and CSF fistula (8.1%). Postoperative bleeding, palsy, speech disorder, pneumonia and renal insufficiency were dependent on age (r = 0.123, p = 0.001; r = 0.089, p = 0.014; r = 0.100, p = 0.006; r = 0.098, p = 0.007 and r = 0.084, p = 0.020) and presented more often in elderly patients. 6 young and 15 elderly patients died during the 17.4-year observation period. Most patients showed a significant improvement in postoperative KPS (p < 0.001), except those over 80 years old (p = 0.753). The KPS at the last follow-up was significantly improved in all patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Meningioma surgery is associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications in elderly patients than in young patients. Most elderly patients, similar to young patients, show a significant improvement in neurological status postoperatively.

Impact of peritumoral brain edema on pre- and postoperative clinical conditions and on long-term outcomes in patients with intracranial meningiomas.

BACKGROUND: Peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) is a common complication related to intracranial meningiomas. In several studies, researchers have investigated the pathogenesis of PTBE, and the factors involved in its development in patients with intracranial meningiomas have been reported. However, very little is known about the clinical effect of PTBE on patients with intracranial meningiomas; therefore, a systematic examination of this matter is necessary. METHODS: In this study, we performed a systematic examination of 696 patients with primary intracranial meningiomas to assess the effect of preoperative PTBE on preoperative symptoms, neurological deficits and postoperative complications, and long-term outcomes with a follow-up period of 16.8 years. We performed a univariate analysis and multiple regression for specific outcomes and adjusted for other relevant clinical factors. RESULTS: A total of 627 (90.1%) patients were symptomatic preoperatively. One hundred eighty-eight (90.8%) patients with small to moderate PTBE and 125 (98.4%) patients with severe PTBE presented with symptoms significantly more often than the 314 (86.7%) patients without PTBE (p < 0.001, univariate analysis). Cognitive deficits, palsy and seizure were significantly more present, preoperatively, in patients with PTBE than in patients without PTBE (p < 0.001, univariate analysis). Two hundred fifty-five (36.6%) patients experienced surgical and systemic complications postoperatively. The complication rate was significantly higher in patients with PTBE; 41.5% for patients with small to moderate PTBE and 52.8% for patients with severe PTBE, compared to 28.2% of patients without PTBE (p < 0.001, univariate analysis). Furthermore, pre- and postoperative KPS scores were significantly lower in patients with PTBE (p < 0.001). Patients with PTBE required additional medical support significantly more often (p < 0.001) and had a significantly longer hospital stay (p < 0.001). The mortality rate was higher in patients with PTBE immediately after surgery and in the follow-up period; however, the difference was not significant. The neurological condition of all patients improved in the follow-up and did not show significant differences between patients with and without preoperative PTBE (p = 0.6361). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a significant association between PTBE and the presence of preoperative cognitive deficits, the incidences of seizure and postoperative complications, and low pre- and postoperative KPS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative PTBE significantly increased the incidences of specific preoperative symptoms, neurological deficits and postoperative complications in patients with intracranial meningiomas. After surgery, patients with preoperative PTBE required medical support significantly more often than patients without PTBE. However, all patients had favorable outcomes after surgery.

Surgical approach for convexity meningiomas: An analysis of the preoperative clinical signs, radiological features and surgical outcomes of these tumors.

BACKGROUND: Convexity meningiomas (CM) can be successfully treated with neurosurgery. However, clinical complications due to CM have been reported. Moreover, systematic investigations of CM with respect to all relevant clinical factors are currently lacking. METHODS: We performed a systematic investigation in 210 patients with supratentorial CM considering all relevant clinical and radiological factors, with a follow-up time of 19.5 years. RESULTS: Among 812 patients with intracranial meningiomas treated in our department (2003-2020), 28.2 % of intracranial meningiomas were located over the supratentorial convexity, and the patients had a median age of 62 years (95 % CI:59-64). The median follow-up was 30.4 months (95 % CI:21.6-37.1). Tumor-related symptoms were observed in 88.1 % of patients. The most common preoperative symptom was headache (28.1 %), followed by seizure (19.5 %). Symptomatic patients had significantly higher tumor volumes than asymptomatic patients (p = 0.0003; 24.5 cm3 and 6.98 cm3, respectively). Complete tumor resection was achieved in 92.9 % of patients. The most common postoperative complication was bleeding (7.1 %) in the approach area. Of all bleedings, only three were intracerebral hemorrhages and did not require surgical intervention. The second most common complication was postoperative seizure (4.7 %). The multiple logistic regression analyses showed that tumor volume (OR:1.007; 95 % CI:1.001-1.013; p = 0.02) and brain infiltration by the tumor (OR:1.961; 95 % CI:1.028-3.741; p = 0.04) had a significant impact on postoperative complications. The postoperative and final KPS scores significantly improved (p < 0.001). The tumor recurrence rate was 6.2 %, with a median time of 38 months. No surgery-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: A large tumor volume and brain infiltration by the tumor were significant factors for postoperative complications. The clinical conditions significantly improved postoperatively and further during the follow-up period.

Camptocormia in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a focal myopathy of the paravertebral muscles.

The objective of our study was to describe the clinical features of camptocormia, an involuntary, marked flexion of the thoracolumbar spine in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and to understand its etiology. In a prospective, cross-sectional study, we examined 15 patients with PD and camptocormia using laboratory parameters, EMG, muscle magnetic resonance imaging, and biopsy of the paravertebral muscles. The clinical data were compared with a matched control group of PD patients without camptocormia, and the biopsies were compared with muscles from age-matched autopsies. Almost all the patients (median age, 68.0 years; 7 women) with camptocormia suffered from advanced PD. Camptocormia occurred at a median of 9.0 years after the PD diagnosis. Compared with our clinical control group, back pain was more frequent and less dopa-sensitive in the patients with camptocormia who suffered more often from additional diseases of the back. On EMG, we found mainly a myopathic pattern. The MRI of the paravertebral muscles showed localized changes ranging from edema with contrast enhancement, which are considered to be early signs, to atrophy and/or fatty degeneration, interpreted as late degenerative changes. Early signs were seen mainly during the first year and degenerative changes after 1.5 years. Biopsies revealed consistently myopathic changes and in some cases fatty degeneration. Clinical or electromyographic features favoring dystonia were absent. Camptocormia is a major disabling, non-fluctuating and levodopa-resistant complication of advanced PD. The cause of camptocormia in idiopathic PD is a focal myopathy. Our findings suggest that the myopathy has a progressive course, which finally leads to degeneration of the paravertebral muscles.

Perioperative intensity-modulated brachytherapy for refractory orbital rhabdomyosarcomas in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of perioperative intensity-modulated brachytherapy (IMBT) as well as functional outcome in children with therapy-refractory orbital rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 1993, children with therapy-refractory orbital RMS have been treated by a multidisciplinary approach combining function-preserving, mostly R1 tumor resection and perioperative IMBT at the University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. All children with orbital RMS, who were enrolled in this multidisciplinary treatment protocol between 1993 and 2002, were prospectively assessed with respect to evaluation of side effects and functional outcome. RESULTS: Ten children (six boys, four girls) were included. Median age was 6.5 years (range, 1-19 years) at the beginning of our treatment and 6.0 years (range 1-17 years) at diagnosis. All children were in Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG) group III and had embryonal subtype. Estimated 5-year survival was 62% +/- 18%. There was no radiation-related toxicity grade 3 or 4 observed. The eyes were primarily preserved in all cases. One child underwent secondary orbital exenteration 10 months after completion of IMBT. Visual acuity could be preserved apart from one child developing significant visual deterioration due to radiation cataract grade 2. The cosmetic results were good or very good in eight and moderate in two children. Four children died of their disease. CONCLUSION: This interdisciplinary, individually tailored and function-preserving treatment procedure has proven to be a well-tolerated therapeutic option in cases with refractory orbital RMS. It provides both improvement of local tumor control and quality of life.

Chronic subdural hemorrhage into a giant arachnoidal cyst (Galassi classification type III).

The authors present CT and MRI of a patient with an extremely large arachnoidal cyst (Galassi classification type III). The cyst extended from the base of the skull, posterior to the brain stem, on the base of the temporal lobe over the complete convexity of the left hemisphere. The cyst consisted of multiple compartments with intracystic septa and was accompanied by a chronic subdural hemorrhage in the compartments. After contrast agent application, the typical characteristics of chronic subdural membranes were found. Besides bony deformities, a thinning of the inner table was found. The patient underwent craniotomy for evacuation of the hemorrhage and fenestration of the septa while he was free of symptoms. This is a remarkable case proving that chronic local intracranial pressure does not inevitably lead to neurologic symptoms or intellectual disabilities.