Helicobacter pylori Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa: The First Lagos Consensus Statement of the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most prevalent type of bacterial infection. Current guidelines from different regions of the world neglect specific African conditions and requirements. The African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (AHMSG), founded in 2022, aimed to create an Africa-specific consensus report reflecting Africa-specific issues. SUMMARY: Eighteen experts from nine African countries and two European delegates supported by nine African collaborators from eight other countries prepared statements on the most important African issues in four working groups: (1) epidemiology, (2) diagnosis, (3) indications and prevention, and (4) treatment. Limited resources, restricted access to medical systems, and underdeveloped diagnostic facilities differ from those of other regions. The results of the individual working groups were presented for the final consensus voting, which included all board members. KEY MESSAGES: There is a need for further studies on H. pylori prevalence in Africa, with diagnosis hinged on specific African situation. Treatment of H. pylori in the African setting should be based on accessibility and reimbursement, while indication and prevention should be defined in specific African countries.

Resistencia a los inhibidores de la integrasa en niños con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana por transmisión vertical: primeros casos en Uruguay / Resistance to integrase inhibitors in children with vertically-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus: First cases in Uruguay

La resistencia a los antirretrovirales (ARV) es un problema de salud pública. Con el uso de inhibidores de la integrasa (INSTI) en pediatría, también comienzan a aparecer resistencias. El objetivo de esta comunicación es describir 3 casos con resistencia a los INSTI. Se describen 3 pacientes pediátricos con transmisión vertical del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Iniciaron ARV de lactantes y preescolares, con mala adherencia al tratamiento, cursaron con diferentes planes secundarios a comorbilidades asociadas y fallas virológicas por resistencia. Los 3 casos clínicos describen la rápida aparición de resistencia frente a la falla virológica y el compromiso de los INSTI. La adherencia debe ser supervisada para detectar precozmente el aumento de la viremia. La falla virológica en un paciente tratado con raltegravir obliga a un rápido cambio de esquema ARV, ya que continuar utilizándolo podría favorecer nuevas mutaciones y resistencia a los INSTI de segunda generación.

Antiretroviral (ARV) drug resistance is a public health issue. Resistance has also been observed in the case of integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) used in pediatrics. The objective of this article is to describe 3 cases of INSTI resistance. These are the cases of 3 children with vertically-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). They were started on ARVs as infants and preschoolers, with poor treatment adherence, and had different management plans due to associated comorbidities and virological failure due to resistance. In the 3 cases, resistance developed rapidly as a result of virological failure and INSTI involvement. Treatment adherence should be monitored so that any increase in viremia can be detected early. Virological failure in a patient treated with raltegravir forces to a rapid change in ARV therapy because its continued use may favor new mutations and resistance to second-generation INSTIs.

Hidrocistomas ecrinos múltiples

RESUMEN Los hidrocistomas ecrinos son tumores benignos, únicos o múltiples. Se presentan con mayor frecuencia en la mediana edad y predominan en el sexo femenino. Se presenta un paciente con hidrocistomas ecrinos múltiples, masculino de 74 años.

ABSTRACT Eccrine hydrocystomas are benign tumors, which can be single or multiple. They occur most oftenly in middle aged patients or in the elderly, predominantly female. We present a case of multiple eccrine hydrocystomas, in a 74-year-old male patient.

Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis, which can progress to severe gastroduodenal pathologies, including peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. H. pylori is usually transmitted in childhood and persists for life if untreated. The infection affects around half of the population in the world but prevalence varies according to location and sanitation standards. H. pylori has unique properties to colonize gastric epithelium in an acidic environment. The pathophysiology of H. pylori infection is dependent on complex bacterial virulence mechanisms and their interaction with the host immune system and environmental factors, resulting in distinct gastritis phenotypes that determine possible progression to different gastroduodenal pathologies. The causative role of H. pylori infection in gastric cancer development presents the opportunity for preventive screen-and-treat strategies. Invasive, endoscopy-based and non-invasive methods, including breath, stool and serological tests, are used in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Their use depends on the specific individual patient history and local availability. H. pylori treatment consists of a strong acid suppressant in various combinations with antibiotics and/or bismuth. The dramatic increase in resistance to key antibiotics used in H. pylori eradication demands antibiotic susceptibility testing, surveillance of resistance and antibiotic stewardship.

Sebaceoma. Reporte de un caso / Sebaceoma. Case report

RESUMEN El sebaceoma es un tumor de las glándulas sebáceas. Vinculado a una posible alteración en la vía de señalización Wnt/beta-catenina. Se caracteriza clínicamente por ser una lesión exofítica, más comúnmente de aparición solitaria y amarillenta. Cuando en un mismo paciente los tumores son múltiples debemos descartar la presencia del síndrome de Muir-Torre, un trastorno asociado a la presencia de neoplasias malignas internas. En la histopatología, el diagnóstico diferencial se realizaprincipalmente con el adenoma sebáceo, teniendo en cuenta el porcentaje de células germinativas o inmaduras en los lóbulos. El tratamiento de elección es la extirpación quirúrgica, aunque también se puede emplear la electrodesecación, entre otros. Se decide reportar el caso de una paciente femenina con un tumor sebáceo de poca frecuencia, haciendo una revisión de las características clínicas e histopatológicas que nos ayuden a disminuir las dificultades en el diagnóstico.

ABSTRACT Sebaceoma is a rare sebaceous gland tumor, named by Troy and Ackerman in 1984. A possible alteration in the Wnt / beta-catenin signaling pathway has been linked to its etiology and would play an important role in genesis of some tumors, including sebaceous. It is clinically characterized by being an exophytic lesion, most commonly of a solitary, yellowish appearance, which appears in seborrheic areas, although the symptoms can be very heterogeneous. When tumors are multiple in the same patient, we must rule out the presence of Muir-Torre syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder that is associated with the presence of internal malignancies. In Sebaceoma dermoscopy, an amorphous yellowish erythematous area is generally found, which suggests the sebaceous etiology of the lesion, but currently the definitive diagnosis can only be confirmed with histopathology. The differential diagnosis is made mainly with sebaceous adenoma, taking into account the percentage of germ cells or immature lobes, being less than 50% in sebaceous adenoma and more than 50% in sebaceoma, the latter also tends to be of greater size and depth. The treatment of choice is surgical removal, although electrodesiccation, cryotherapy, or curettage can also be used. It was decided to report the case of a female patient with an infrequent sebaceous tumor, making a review of the clinical and histopathological characteristics that help us decrease the difficulties in diagnosis.

Dorsal rhizotomy in cerebral palsy: How root sectioning is influenced by intraoperative neuromonitoring?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Dorsal rhizotomy is a controversial procedure for treating spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, particularly regarding the influence of intraoperative neuromonitoring (ION). The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ION in adjusting root sectioning compared the preoperative program established by the multidisciplinary team. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive children with spastic diplegia or quadriplegia, operated on between 2017 and 2020 in the University Hospital of Nancy, France, were studied. All underwent the same procedure: Keyhole Intralaminar Dorsal rhizotomy (KIDr) with enlarged multilevel interlaminar openings to access all roots from L2 to S2. The Ventral Root (VR) was stimulated to map radicular myotomes, and the Dorsal Root (DR) to test excitability of the segmental circuitry. Muscle responses were observed independently by the physiotherapist and by EMG-recordings. The study compared final root sectioning per radicular level and per side after ION versus the preoperative program determined by the multidisciplinary team. RESULTS: ION resulted in significant differences in final percentage root sectioning (P<0.05), with a decrease for L2 and L3 and an increase for L5. ION modified the symmetry of sectioning, with 32% instead of 5% in preoperative program. Only 5 children showed change in GMFC score 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: The use of ION during dorsal rhizotomy led to important modifications of root sectioning during surgery, which justifies individual control of each root, level by level and side by side, to optimize the therapeutic effect.

Ophthalmological lesions in shaken baby syndrome: A retrospective analysis of 133 consecutive cases (1992-2018).

INTRODUCTION: Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a non-accidental head trauma in which shaking causes cranio-cerebral lesions. Shaking can lead to ophthalmologic lesions such as retinal hemorrhage (RH). The aim of the present study was to compare our long-term results in to the literature data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a single-center retrospective descriptive analysis of 133 consecutive SBS cases (1992-2018). Only seniors in ophthalmology were authorized to perform these examinations. We studied type of lesion (retinal, intra-vitreal, papilledema), location (uni- or bi-lateral), and correlation with gender and age. Infants with a traumatic context without suspicion of child abuse were excluded. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 131days (range, 14days-10months). Boys accounted for 72.2% of the population. The prevalence of ophthalmologic lesions was 70.3%. 94.4% were RH; intra-vitreous hemorrhage (6.7%) and papilledema (11.1%) were less frequent. Lesions were bilateral in 81.1% of cases. Retinal lesions were classified in terms of location. Macular involvement was diagnosed in 8.2% of cases. 18.8% of retinal lesions could not be classified because of lack of precision in the ophthalmology report. The prevalence of ophthalmic lesions was higher for children aged over 6months: 80%. CONCLUSION: This series highlighted a high rate of ophthalmic lesions in SBS, with a high rate of bilateral involvement. RH was the most frequent lesion. RH in a context of subdural hematoma is a strong argument in favor of SBS. The forensic implications are that rigorous ophthalmologic examination by a senior practitioner is mandatory.

Prenatal neurosurgical counseling for conditions affecting the fetal nervous system.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to share a single center's experience of prenatal neurosurgical counseling and explore pregnant women's experiences with counseling. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data for 81 women who received prenatal counseling in a single institution (same senior pediatric neurosurgeon) over a 6-year period. Additionally, a retrospective questionnaire study was conducted with 33 women who chose to continue their pregnancy, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of counseling and analyze the reasons for their decision. RESULTS: Spinal dysraphism was the most frequent condition leading to prenatal counseling, followed by conditions affecting the cerebrospinal fluid. 57.6% of the women did not follow the French national recommendations on folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional period, and 38.3% underwent termination of pregnancy (TOP). One-third of the 33 women who answered our questionnaire changed their mind about TOP after counseling, and 50% reported that the information provided influenced their decision. CONCLUSION: Prenatal neurosurgical counseling is nowadays an important part of a pediatric neurosurgeon's practice. It provides specific information to the woman to decide whether to continue the pregnancy. Urological concerns are frequent among the malformations encountered. Hence, we conclude that these women should be offered the possibility of seeing a urologist. Areas for improvement include greater awareness regarding folic acid supplementation and improved psychological care. The advantage for a woman of consulting a neurosurgeon consists in receiving information that is as accurate as possible about the level of disability of the future child and about surgery and follow-up.

Lupus eritematoso sistémico asociado a anetodermia / Systemic lupus erythematosus associated with anetoderma

RESUMEN La anetodermia primaria es una dermatosis de baja frecuencia, crónica, la cual se caracteriza por pérdida de fibras elásticas. En algunas ocasiones se ha observado en pacientes con enfermedades autoinmunes, entre ellas el lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES). Presentamos un caso de LES asociado a anetodermia, en una paciente de sexo femenino, de 19 años de edad.

ABSTRACT Primary anetoderma is an infrequent skin disease that has sometimes been observed in patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. We present a case of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with anetoderma, in a 19-year-oldfemale patient.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy For Penetrating Cardiac Box Injury in Stable Patients

Abstract Introduction: In high-volume trauma centers, especially in developing countries, penetrating cardiac box injuries are frequent. Although many aspects of penetrating chest injuries have been well established, video-assisted thoracoscopy is still finding its place in cardiac box trauma and algorithmic approaches are still lacking. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a streamlined recommendation for penetrating cardiac box injury in stable patients. Methods: Literature review was carried out using PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases to identify articles describing the characteristics and concepts of penetrating cardiac box trauma, including the characteristics of tamponade, cardiac ultrasound, indications and techniques of pericardial windows and, especially, the role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in stable patients. Results: Penetrating cardiac box injuries, whether by stab or gunshot wounds, require rapid surgical consultation. Unstable patients require immediate open surgery, however, determining which stable patients should be taken to thoracoscopic surgery is still controversial. Here, the classification of penetrating cardiac box injury used in Colombia is detailed, as well as the algorithmic approach to these types of trauma. Conclusion: Although open surgery is mandatory in unstable patients with penetrating cardiac box injuries, a more conservative and minimally invasive approach may be undertaken in stable patients. As rapid decision-making is critical in the trauma bay, surgeons working in high-volume trauma centers should expose themselves to thoracoscopy and always consider this possibility in the setting of penetrating cardiac box injuries in stable patients, always in the context of an experienced trauma team.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy For Penetrating Cardiac Box Injury in Stable Patients.

INTRODUCTION: In high-volume trauma centers, especially in developing countries, penetrating cardiac box injuries are frequent. Although many aspects of penetrating chest injuries have been well established, video-assisted thoracoscopy is still finding its place in cardiac box trauma and algorithmic approaches are still lacking. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a streamlined recommendation for penetrating cardiac box injury in stable patients. METHODS: Literature review was carried out using PubMed/ MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases to identify articles describing the characteristics and concepts of penetrating cardiac box trauma, including the characteristics of tamponade, cardiac ultrasound, indications and techniques of pericardial windows and, especially, the role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in stable patients. RESULTS: Penetrating cardiac box injuries, whether by stab or gunshot wounds, require rapid surgical consultation. Unstable patients require immediate open surgery, however, determining which stable patients should be taken to thoracoscopic surgery is still controversial. Here, the classification of penetrating cardiac box injury used in Colombia is detailed, as well as the algorithmic approach to these types of trauma. CONCLUSION: Although open surgery is mandatory in unstable patients with penetrating cardiac box injuries, a more conservative and minimally invasive approach may be undertaken in stable patients. As rapid decision-making is critical in the trauma bay, surgeons working in high-volume trauma centers should expose themselves to thoracoscopy and always consider this possibility in the setting of penetrating cardiac box injuries in stable patients, always in the context of an experienced trauma team.

Lesiones plantares en paciente pediátrico: apropósito de dos casos / Sole of feet lesions in pediatric patients: a purpose of two cases

RESUMEN Las mastocitosis e histiocitosis, son enfermedades que se caracterizan por la proliferación o activación descontrolada y posterior acumulación anormal de mastocitos e histiocitos respectivamente. De incidencia desconocida, talvez porque son subdiagnosticadas. Su patogenia aún es desconocida, si bien está relacionada con mutaciones en la vía del C-KIT para las mastocitosis y de origen viral o neoplásico en el caso de las histiocitosis. Ambas patologías suelen ser frecuentes en la infancia, incluso algunas son congénitas. El mastocitoma cutáneo único sería una forma benigna de mastocitosis y la histiocitosis de células de Langerhans es una forma de histiocitosis que en nuestro caso al afectar un solo órgano (la piel) tendría un buen pronóstico.

SUMMARY Mastocytosis and histiocytosis are diseases that are characterice by uncontrolled proliferation or activation and subsequent abnormal activation of mast cells and histiocytes respectively. Of unknown incidence, perhaps because they are underdiagnosed, their pathogenesis is still unknown although it is related to mutations in the C-KIT pathway for mastocytosis and of viral or neoplastic origin in the case of histiocytosis. Both pathologies are usually frequent in childhood, even some are congenital. The single cutaneous mastocytoma would be a benign form of mastocytosis and the histiocytosis of Langerhans cells is a form of histiocytosis that in our case affecting a single organ (the skin) will have a good prognosis.

Management of congenital lobar overinflation in an adult.

Congenital lobar overinflation is characterized by disruption of bronchopulmonary development which produces lobar or segmental bronchial abnormalities and overinflation of normal lung tissue. This is a 44-year old man, never smoker, who presents dyspnea every time he arrived in highlands, marked decreased breathing sounds and hyperresonance in the left hemithorax. Imaging studies suggested left upper lobe overinflation. The affected area was resected resulting in symptoms improvement. Accepted treatment is resection, however conservative management has been proposed for asymptomatic patients because cases of spontaneous improvement have been described. We recommend close monitoring and resection if symptoms or overinflation progress.

Optic pathway tumor in children: Toward a new classification for neurosurgical use.

OBJECT: Optic pathway tumors (OPT) represent a challenge for pediatric neurosurgeons. Role of surgery is debated due to the high risk of iatrogenic damage, and in lasts decades it lost its importance in favor of chemotherapy. However, in some cases surgery is necessary to make biomolecular and histological diagnosis, to manage intracranial hypertension (IH) and to cooperate with medical therapies in controlling tumor relapse. With the aim to standardize selection of surgical OPT cases, we propose a simple, practical and reproducible classification. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 38 patients with OPT treated at our institution (1990-2018). After careful analysis of MRI images, we describe a new classification system. Group 1: lesion limited to one or both optic nerve(s). Group 2: chiasmatic lesions extending minimally to hypothalamus. Group 3: hypothalamo-chiasmatic exophitic lesions invading the third ventricle; they can be further divided on the base of concomitant hydrocephalus. Group 4: hypothalamo-chiasmatic lesions extending widely in lateral direction, toward the temporal or the frontal lobes. Patients' data and adopted treatment are reported and analyzed, also depending on this classification. RESULTS: Twenty children were operated on for treatment of OPT during the study period. Permanent clinical impairment was noted in 5 (25%) of operated patients, while visual improvement was noted in 1 patient. OS rate was 100% at 5 years, with a median follow up of 9 years (ranging from 2 to 23). Prevalence of intracranial hypertension and proportion of first-line surgical treatment decision were significantly higher in groups 3-4 compared to groups 1-2 (P<0.001 for both tests). CONCLUSION: Surgery can offer a valuable therapeutic complement for OPT without major risk of iatrogenic damage. Surgery is indispensable in cases presenting with IH, as in groups 3 and 4 lesions. Eligibility of patients to surgery can be based on this new classification system.

Cerebellar swelling after surgery for medulloblastoma with leptomeningeal dissemination in children. A case based-update.

OBJECT: Despite the improvement in the overall management of medulloblastomas in recent years, certain phenomena and in particular postoperative cerebellar swelling remain an enigma. This rare complication, little described in the literature, is nonetheless life threatening for the patients. CASE REPORTS: We report our experience about two children who developed severe cerebellar swelling with hydrocephalus and upward herniation soon after a gross total resection of a fourth ventricle medulloblastoma by a telo-velar approach. Despite rapid management of ventricular dilation and optimal medical intensive treatment of intracranial hypertension, both children died quickly after the surgery. Pathological examination analyses were in favour of anaplastic/large cell medulloblastoma. DISCUSSION: Diffuse cerebellar swelling with upward herniation may occur postoperatively in young children with anaplastic/large cell medulloblastoma with leptomeningeal spread. In the literature, only 4 cases have been so far described with delayed onset of symptoms. Two children survived with an aggressive management (decompressive surgery and early radio-chemotherapy). CONCLUSION: Cerebellar swelling is an unrecognised and sudden complication of posterior fossa surgery for metastatic anaplastic medulloblastoma with leptomeningeal dissemination in young children. An initial less invasive surgical approach could be considered in such cases, in order to prevent this complication with potentially tragic issue, and which cannot be managed with a CSF shunt alone.

The Women of Colombian Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery: A Survey-based Assessment.

In Colombia, the number of younger female surgeons is increasing along with a growing interest in thoracic and cardiac surgery. It is our duty to motivate young female surgeons in pursuing a career in chest surgery to answer the already growing deficit of cardio-thoracic surgeons.

Penfigoide Gestacional / Pemphigoid Gestationis

Resumen 22. Las enfermedades ampollares de tipo penfigoide,se caracterizan por la presencia de ampollas de origen autoinmune.El Penfigoide gestacional(PG), es parte de este grupo de enfermedades y se define por la presencia de una erupción ampollar,intensamente pruriginosa de comienzo agudo, generalmente en el segundo trimestre del embarazo o posparto inmediato, en ocasiones puede haber compromiso fetal y asociarse con otras enfermedades de origen autoinmune.

Abstract 26. Pemphigoid-type bullous diseases are characterized by the presence of blisters of autoimmune origin.Gestational Pemphigoid (PG) is part of this group of diseases and is defined by the presence of an intensely pruritic bullous eruption of acute onset, usually in the second trimester of pregnancy or immediate postpartum period, there may be fetal compromise and associated with other diseases of autoimmune origin.

Poroqueratosis de localización nasal. Reporte de un caso / Porokeratosis of nasal location. Case report

RESUMEN La poroqueratosis es un trastorno de la queratinización, con herencia autosómica dominante en la mayoría de los casos, vinculada posiblemente a la presencia de un clon mutante de queratinocitos en expansión. Tiene diferentes formas clínicas: de Mibelli, actínica superficial diseminada, lineal, puntiforme, palmoplantar y facial atípica. El diagnóstico se confirma con la histología, presentándose típicamente la laminilla cornoide, que no es patognomónica de esta afección. En el tratamiento de esta patología se utilizan desde agentes tópicos como emolientes, 5-fluorouracilo, calcipotriol, imiquimod y retinoides como terapia sistémica. Otras opciones terapéuticas descritas son extirpación quirúrgica, criocirugía y dermoabrasión cuando se trata de formas localizadas o únicas. Se decide reportar el caso de una paciente femenina con poroqueratosis de afección exclusiva del área nasal por su rara frecuencia y escasos reportes sobre esta forma de presentación en la actualidad.

ABSTRACT Porokeratosis is a disorder of keratinization, with AD inheritance in most cases; possibly linked to the presence of a mutant clone of expanding keratinocytes, in addition to the overexpression of the p53 gene that could be related to an oncogenic potential. This disorder has also been associated with factors such as UVR, immunosuppression cases such as HIV +, liver or kidney failure, transplantation of organs that would act as triggers of this disease. It differs from other pathologies due to the presence of a peripheral hyperkeratotic ring which is usually asymptomatic in half of the patients. Clinically it can occur in different ways: porokeratosis de Mibelli, superficial actinic disseminated, linear, punctate, palmoplantar and atypical facial. Diagnosis is confirmed with histology, with the cornoid lamella typically present, which is not pathognomonic of this condition and consists of a parakeratotic keratinocyte column that extends from an invagination of the epidermis through the stratum corneum. The treatment to choose, will depend on the patient´s age; Size and location of the lesions, the aesthetic implications and the general condition of the affected person. They are used from topics such as emollients, 5-fluorouracil, calcipotriol, imiquimod. Retinoids are found as an option for systemic therapy. Another procedure considers surgical removal, cryosurgery and dermabrasion when dealing with localized or unique forms. We report a case of a 44-year-old female patient who presents with compatible dermatosis porokeratosis, affecting only the nasal area.

Ampollas Hemorrágicas en Purpura de Henoch - Schönlein en paciente pediátrico a propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Hemorrhagic Bullous in Henoch - Schönlein Purpura in childrenabout a case and review of the literature

RESUMEN La Púrpura de Henoch - Schönlein (PHS) es una vasculitis leucocitoclástica, autolimitada que en la mayoría de los casos presenta manifestaciones cutáneas de purpura palpable acompañada de dolor articular, abdominal y alteración de la función renal. Reportamos un caso pediátrico de púrpura con ampollas de contenido hemorrágico variedad rara de presentación y difícil diagnóstico.

SUMARY Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a self-limited a leukocytoclastic vasculitis, the most case have palpable purpura skin manifestations with arthralgia strong abdominal pain, and renal function compromise. We report a pediatric case of purpura with hemorrhagic blisters rare variety of presentation and difficult diagnosis.

Diffuse infiltrative pontine glioma biopsy in children with neuronavigation, frameless procedure: A single center experience of 10 cases.

INTRODUCTION: This study presented pediatric DIPG 's biopsy with frameless Neuronavigation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report our experience about 10 patients who had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma between 2014 and 2018. All patients were biopsied with BrainLab Varioguide Neuronavigation®. We always used fusion between specific CT Scan and MRI to selected target, made planning and biopsies. All patients were included in BIOMEDE after scientific and ethic discussions. We always selected a trans-cerebellar trajectory and made same procedure (lot of biopsies at one level). All patients have MRI at J1 to verify site of biopsy and to eliminate complication. RESULTS: The average age was 8.1 years. Symptoms were common with principally headaches and nystagmus. All biopsies were contributive for histopathological diagnosis and establish molecular profile for molecular study. We have no definitive morbidity and procedure duration was 93minutes in average. All MRI didn't showed intracranial complication after procedure and showed great precision of biopsy compared with the selected target. DISCUSSION: We reviewed the literature and compare our results with series of DIPG biopsies using stereotactic frame or robotic assisted frameless. It was a safe, accuracy and easiness procedure. We always have histopathological and molecular result to proceed next step of treatment. This modality is an alternative possibility to biopsy very young patients with low morbidity.