Prevalence and profile of cognitive impairment in adult glioma: a sensitivity analysis.

Cognitive impairment has been reported in 27-83 % of adults with World Health Organization (WHO) grade I-III glioma. However, the few studies in this field used different methods for cognitive assessment. The objective of the present study was to establish the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with WHO grade I-III primary brain tumors and determine the effect sizes of a comprehensive battery of tests. This study used a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to examine 27 patients. To control for false positives, prevalence was estimated from the overall neuropsychological score. Size effects were determined using Cohen's d. Cognitive impairment was observed in 51.9 % (95 % CI 33-70.7 %) of the patients; the impairment affected action speed (38.5 %), cognitive (33 %) and behavioral (21.7 %) executive functions, oral expression (29.6 %), episodic memory (29.6 %) and visuoconstructive abilities (19.2 %). The largest effect sizes (d ≥ 1.645) were observed for the Digit Symbol Substitution test, global hypoactivity, free recall, Stroop time, the Boston Naming test (BNT), the Trail Making test B (TMTB), verbal fluency and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. Four of these scores (global hypoactivity, the Digit Symbol Substitution test, the TMTB perseveration, and the BNT) were combined to make a shortened battery (AUC 0.872; 95 % CI 0.795-0.949). The overall neuropsychological score was the sole factor associated with the functional outcome. Our results suggest that about half of survivors with a grade I-III primary brain tumor suffer from cognitive impairment. Tests with a large effect size should be included in future large-scale studies.

Microsurgical anatomy of the Adamkiewicz artery-anterior spinal artery junction.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe the anterior spinal artery-Adamkiewicz artery (ASA-AKA) junction and establish a classification allowing defining the neurological risk in either thoracoabdominal aorta aneurysm treatment and in anterior or transforaminal thoracolumbar spine surgery. METHODS: Fifteen spinal cords of fresh cadavers were dissected. Both lumbar arteries and ASA were injected with strongly diluted red-colored silicon. RESULTS: The dural crossing of AKA was located on the left side in 86 % of cases, between T8 and T10 in 73.33 % of cases and L1-L2 in 26.67 % of cases. The average diameter of the ascending branch of AKA was 1.10 mm (range 0.8-1.9 mm), and its average length was 30.27 mm (range 12.3-60 mm). The AKA's arch average diameter was 11.3 mm (range 9-20 mm) with an open downward angle average of 20.1° (range 11°-30°). The descending branch of AKA which was a continuation of ASA had an average diameter of 1.33 mm (range 0.8-1.86 mm). The ASA at the top of the arch had an average diameter of 0.74 mm (range 0.2-1.77 mm). According to these findings, we have proposed a new classification with two types of junctions. The type I and its variant correlated to high neurological risk were present in 93.33 % of cases. The type II, correlated to medium or low neurological risk, was present in 6.67 % of cases. CONCLUSION: These anatomical findings allow a planning of the neurological risk before thoracoabdominal aorta aneurysm or thoracolumbar anterior or transforaminal spine surgery.

Frameless robotic stereotactic biopsies: a consecutive series of 100 cases.

OBJECT: Stereotactic biopsy procedures are an everyday part of neurosurgery. The procedure provides an accurate histological diagnosis with the least possible morbidity. Robotic stereotactic biopsy needs to be an accurate, safe, frameless, and rapid technique. This article reports the clinical results of a series of 100 frameless robotic biopsies using a Medtech ROSA device. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed their first 100 frameless stereotactic biopsies performed with the robotic ROSA device: 84 biopsies were performed by frameless robotic surface registration, 7 were performed by robotic bone fiducial marker registration, and 9 were performed by scalp fiducial marker registration. Intraoperative flat-panel CT scanning was performed concomitantly in 25 cases. The operative details of the robotic biopsies, the diagnostic yield, and mortality and morbidity data observed in this series are reported. RESULTS: A histological diagnosis was established in 97 patients. No deaths or permanent morbidity related to surgery were observed. Six patients experienced transient neurological worsening. Six cases of bleeding within the lesion or along the biopsy trajectory were observed on postoperative CT scans but were associated with transient clinical symptoms in only 2 cases. Stereotactic surgery was performed with patients in the supine position in 93 cases and in the prone position in 7 cases. The use of fiducial markers was reserved for posterior fossa biopsy via a transcerebellar approach, via an occipital approach, or for pediatric biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: ROSA frameless stereotactic biopsies appear to be accurate and safe robotized frameless procedures.

The impact of the reference imaging modality, registration method and intraoperative flat-panel computed tomography on the accuracy of the ROSA® stereotactic robot.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the impact of the imaging modality, registration method and use of intraoperative computed tomography (CT) scan on the accuracy of the ROSA® stereotactic robot. METHODS: Using a dedicated phantom device, we measured the accuracy of the stereotactic robot for 20 targets as a function of the registration method (frameless, FL, or frame-based, FB) and the reference imaging modality (3T magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, CT scanner or flat-panel CT, fpCT). We performed a retrospective study of the accuracy of the first 26 FB and 31 FL robotized stereotactic surgeries performed in our department. RESULTS: In a phantom study, the mean target accuracy was 1.59 mm for 3T MRI-guided FL surgery, 0.3 mm for fpCT-guided FL surgery and 0.3 mm for CT-guided FB surgery. In our retrospective series, the mean accuracy was 0.81 mm for FB stereotactic surgery, 1.22 mm for our 24 stereotactic surgery procedures with FL (surface recognition) registration and 0.7 mm for our 7 stereotactic surgery procedures with FL fiducial marker registration. Intraoperative fpCT fully corrected all the registration errors. CONCLUSIONS: The ROSA stereotactic robot is highly accurate. Robotized FB stereotactic surgery is more accurate than robotized FL stereotactic surgery.

High-resolution 3-dimensional T2*-weighted angiography (HR 3-D SWAN): an optimized 3-T magnetic resonance imaging sequence for targeting the subthalamic nucleus.

BACKGROUND: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is an established treatment for Parkinson's disease. OBJECTIVE: To characterize an optimized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence (high-resolution 3-dimensional T2*-weighted angiography [HR 3-D SWAN]) for direct STN targeting. METHODS: Sequence distortions were measured using the Leksell stereotactic phantom. Eight consecutive candidates for STN-DBS underwent HR 3-D SWAN MRI for direct identification of the 16 STN. Two senior neurosurgeons independently determined the boundaries of STN on a semiquantitative scale (ranging from 1 [identification very easy] to 4 [identification very difficult]) and the anatomic target within the nucleus. The anatomic data were compared with electrophysiological recordings (48 microrecordings). We examined the anatomic location of the active contacts on MRI. RESULTS: The mean distortion error over the phantom was 0.16 mm. For the 16 STNs, identification of the upper, internal, anterior, and external edges was considered to be easy (scores of 1 or 2). The distinction between the substantia nigra and the STN was rated 1 or 2 for all but 6 nuclei. In the mediolateral axis, electrophysiological recordings covered perfectly anatomic data. In the craniocaudal axis, the mean differences between the electrophysiological data and the anatomic data were 0.8 mm and 0.19 mm for the "entry" and "exit" of the STN, respectively. All active contacts were located within the STN on MRI. CONCLUSION: HR 3-D SWAN allows easy visualization of the STN. Adapted to stereotactic requirement, the sequence simplifies direct targeting in STN-DBS surgery.

Functional consequences of a section of the anterior part of the body of the corpus callosum: evidence from an interhemispheric transcallosal approach.

The aim of this study was to determine the neuropsychological consequences of a middle interhemispheric approach for the removal of tumors of the third or lateral ventricles. A retrospective analysis of eight callosotomized patients for ventricular tumors (three males/five females; mean age: 48.7 ± 11.2 years; education level: 11.9 ± 2.9 years) and eight healthy subjects was performed. An extensive neuropsychological test battery was used to evaluate global intellectual efficiency, memory capacities, executive functions, and interhemispheric transfer of a procedural learning task (serial reaction time task/SRTT). Neuropsychological results showed that: (1) five of eight patients operated through a middle transcallosal approach had disturbances of verbal or visual memory; (2) three of eight patients displayed a dysexecutive cognitive syndrome(two of eight of whom presenting with a deficit of verbal fluency); (3) two of eight patients presented a dysexecutive behavior syndrome; and (4) with regard to the SRTT, although all participants learned the task, in contrast to controls, the callosotomized patients showed an increase in reaction times and an absence of interhemispheric transfer of learning from one hand to the other. The transcallosal approach transects a large number of callosal fibers. This damage accounts for the deficits of memory, the dysexecutive cognitive and behavioral syndrome, and disturbances in interhemispheric transfer of learning.

Microsurgical anatomy of distal medial striate artery (recurrent artery of Heubner).

INTRODUCTION: In literature, many controversies exist about courses and terminology of the distal medial striate artery (DMSA) or recurrent artery first described by Heubner near 1872. The purpose of this study was to define the accurate anatomy of this artery, to help the practitioners during surgery of the anterior cerebral-anterior communicating arteries (ACA-ACoA) complex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 cranial bases were examined using magnification of the surgical microscope. One half for which the internal carotid arteries and internal jugular veins were dissected, cannulated and perfused with colored silicon on fresh cadavers; the other half only with arterial injection of formalin-fixed normal adult human brains. RESULTS: The artery arose principally from A2 segment (58%), always less than 5 mm up to downstream from ACA to ACoA junction. In 59.5% it had a recurrent course anterior to A1 segment. It terminated in one to three stems which entered the medial part of the anterior perforated substance. The DMSA was present as a single vessel in 95% of cases. Its main outer diameter was 0.7 mm and the length had an average of 24 mm. CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic damage or occlusion leads to a mediobasal striatum infarction with important neurological deficits such as brachiofacial hemiparesis and aphasia. This artery should be routinely identified during clipping of ACoA aneurysm. Special attention in this study was given to atypical posterior course or anatomic variations such as double DMSA on a same side.

Microsurgical anatomy of the anterior commissure: correlations with diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking and clinical relevance.

BACKGROUND: Detailed anatomy of the anterior commissure is unknown in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe the anterior commissure with the use of a fiber dissection technique by focusing on the morphology (length and breadth of the 2 portions), the course, and the relations with neighboring fasciculi, particularly in the temporal stem. METHODS: We dissected 8 previously frozen, formalin-fixed human brains under the operating microscope using the fiber dissection described by Klingler. Lateral, inferior, and medial approaches were made. RESULTS: The anterior olfactive limb of the anterior commissure was sometimes absent during dissection. The cross-sectional 3-dimensional magnetic resonance rendering images showed that fibers of the anterior commissure curved laterally within the basal forebrain. The tip of the temporal limb of the anterior commissure was intermingled with other fasciculi in various directions to form a dense 3-dimensional network. CONCLUSION: Functional anatomy and comparative anatomy are described. The anterior commissure can be involved in various pathologies such as diffuse axonal injury, schizophrenia, and cerebral tumoral dissemination.

Microsurgical anatomy of the medial tentorial artery of Bernasconi-Cassinari.

OBJECTIVE: In the current literature, there is a lack of detailed map of the origin, course and relationships of the medial tentorial artery (MTA) of Bernasconi-Cassinari often implicated in various diseases such as dural arteriovenous fistulas of the cranial base, stenotic lesions of the ICA, saccular infraclinoid intracavernous aneurysms and tentorial meningiomas. METHODS: Using a colored silicone mix preparation, ten cranial bases were examined using ×3 to ×40 magnification of the surgical microscope. RESULTS: The MTA arose as a single branch in 95% of cases from the MHT at the level of the C4 segment of the internal carotid artery. The average length of the MTA was 21.7 mm (range 20.0-23.4 mm). The average diameter of the MTA was 0.53 mm (range 0.49-0.60 mm).The MTA passed just below the lower dural ring detached from the lower margin of the anterior clinoid process. During its course, the MTA drop over the intracavernous segment of the abducens nerve twisted at its exit from the Dorello's canal and overlay the trochlear into the thickness of the free margin of the tentorium cerebelli. Vascular relationships of the MTA were venous trabeculation of the cavernous sinus, basilar plexus and branches of the inferolateral trunk. The MTA sent two terminal branches: one medial rectilinear, which pursued the initial dorsal course, and the other shorter with a lateral course, which disappeared into the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. The medial branch of the MTA curved laterally, ramifying within the free edge of the tentorium cerebelli and anastomosing along the base of the dorsal part of the falx. CONCLUSION: The implications of these anatomic findings for surgery or endovascular procedure are reviewed and discussed.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for pain management in malignant fractures of the spine with epidural involvement.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) in the treatment of pathologic fractures owing to malignancy with epidural involvement, with or without neurologic symptoms of spinal cord or cauda equina compression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the local ethics committee; informed consent was obtained from all patients. This retrospective review was performed for 51 consecutive patients with metastatic disease or multiple myeloma treated by means of vertebroplasty, who presented with at least one vertebral lesion with epidural involvement, with or without clinical symptoms of spinal cord or cauda equina compression. All patients with neurologic deficit were terminally ill. A neurologic examination was performed before and after treatment in all patients. All imaging examinations and treatments were reviewed, and chi(2), Mann Whitney, or Fisher exact testing was performed for univariate analysis of variables. RESULTS: A total of 74 vertebrae were treated in 51 patients, 22 women and 29 men with a mean age of 62.5 years (range, 28-85 years). Fifteen (29%) patients presented symptoms of complete or incomplete spinal cord or cauda equina compression before vertebroplasty and no further clinical deterioration was observed after treatment. The analgesic efficacy of vertebroplasty was satisfactory for 94% (48 of 51) of patients after 1 day, 86% (31 of 36) patients after 1 month, and 92% (11 of 12) patients after 1 year. One patient with no clinical neurologic deficit before treatment experienced symptoms of cauda equina compression 2 days after vertebroplasty. No other major complication was observed. CONCLUSION: The feasibility, efficacy, and safety of PV were confirmed in patients experiencing pain related to malignant spinal tumors with epidural extension, with a low complication rate. PV should become part of the palliative analgesic treatment for such patients. (c) RSNA, 2010.

Microsurgical anatomy of the temporal stem: clinical relevance and correlations with diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking.

OBJECT: The authors used a fiber dissection technique to describe the temporal stem and explain the tendency of malignant tumors to spread within both the frontal and temporal lobes. The authors focused on the morphological characteristics and course of various fasciculi of the temporal stem, including the uncinate fascicle, occipitofrontal fascicle, anterior commissure, loop of the optic radiations (Meyer loop), and the ansa peduncularis. METHODS: Eight previously frozen, formalin-fixed human brains were dissected under an operating microscope using the fiber dissection technique described by Klingler. Lateral, inferior, and medial approaches were made. Cross-sectional 3D MR images obtained in 10 patients without brain lesions demonstrated that fibers of the temporal stem, which were intermingled together in various ways, curved laterally within the basal forebrain. Various pathological entities affecting the temporal stem are described and discussed. RESULTS: The uncinate fascicle has 3 portions: a ventral extension, an intermediary segment called the isthmus, and a dorsal segment. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is a layer of more superficial white matter that appeared to be superior to the uncinate fasciculus. A short ventral portion of the radiations of the corpus callosum was sometimes noted to run ventrally to enter the temporal stem and to reach both temporal lobes. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, a detailed anatomy of the temporal stem has not been previously described in the literature. The unique anatomy of the temporal stem provides a route for tumor spread between the frontal and temporal lobes.

Epistaxis revealing the rupture of a carotid aneurysm of the cavernous sinus extending into the sphenoid: treatment using an uncovered stent and coils. Review of literature.

True carotid aneurysms with sphenoid extension and revealed by epistaxis are rare. A review of the literature shows the mortality risk of this pathology and the different therapeutic options. A 41-year-old female presented with a cavernous carotid aneurysm with sphenoid extension revealed by massive epistaxis. We propose a combined treatment of the affected vessel using coils and an uncovered stent. The first stage to stop the hemorrhages and occlude the aneurysm using the coil and the second stage several days later after anticoagulation using the stent to prevent revascularization. This treatment has been shown to be effective in producing immediate hemostasis and stable long-term occlusion.

Adrenal gland hypertrophy in a case of homolateral renal agenesis: case report with special emphasis on adrenal blood supply.

Hypertrophic suprarenal gland is an anomaly which can lead to serious complications during adrenalectomy under endoscopy because of abnormal veins of the retroperitoneum. The authors report a rare dissection of a male which presented with this anomaly in a case of homolateral renal agenesis, highlighting this left pseudorenal vein. No abnormality of the genital tract was found. The anatomic features, associated syndromes, implications for endoscopic surgery are outlined and embryologic considerations and discussed.

Odontoid fracture complicating Jaffe-Lichtenstein disease. Case report.

The authors report the case of a 31-year-old man with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia who suffered a traumatic odontoid fracture in an area of a preexisting bone lesion. Conservative treatment was successfully performed. Jaffe-Lichtenstein disease is discussed along with differential diagnoses and alternative methods of treatment.

Cerebral venous angioma of the pons complicated by nonhemorrhagic infarction. Case report.

The authors emphasize an unusual complication of venous angiomas in the brain: venous infarction. The patient in this case is a 32-year-old man who presented with a clinical history of headache followed by a worsening of his neurological status. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated a brain infarct in the posterior fossa, which was related to thrombosis of the draining vein of a cerebral venous angioma. A conservative treatment approach without anticoagulation therapy was followed and the patient completely recovered. Nonhemorragic venous infarction caused by thrombosis of a venous angioma is exceptional and only nine previous cases have been reported in the literature.

Differential MRI diagnosis between brain abscesses and necrotic or cystic brain tumors using the apparent diffusion coefficient and normalized diffusion-weighted images.

Magnetic Resonance Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) has been reported to be helpful for the differential diagnosis between abscesses and cystic/necrotic brain tumors. However the number of patients is still limited, and the sensitivity and specificity of the method remain to be confirmed. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate a larger sample of patients, all investigated under the same experimental conditions, in order to obtain statistically significant data. Moreover, there is no consensus about the appropriate values of b required to use to make an accurate diagnosis from DWI. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine the discriminating threshold b values for raw diffusion-weighted images and for normalized diffusion-weighted images. On the basis of 14 abscesses, 10 high-grade gliomas and 2 metastases, we show that the calculation of accurate Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values gives a specificity rate of 100%. Without ADC calculation, we show that image normalization is required to make an accurate differential diagnosis, and we highlight the ability of DWI to discriminate between brain abscesses and cystic/necrotic brain tumors using normalized signal intensity at lower b values (503 s/mm(2)) than usual.