Impact of Early Reoperation on the Prognosis of Patients Operated on for Glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis for patients with glioblastoma depends particularly on the degree of tumor resection. Patients with tumor remnants in postsurgical magnetic resonance imaging (<72 hours) may benefit from early reoperation. We present our results concerning the impact on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of reoperation in patients who have already undergone surgery for glioblastoma. METHODS: This study included all patients who had undergone surgery for glioblastoma with control magnetic resonance imaging, who received adjuvant therapy as per the Stupp protocol, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. We recorded the number of complete resections, partial resections, and early reoperations. We determined the impact on OS and PFS of the early reoperations and the functional status. We considered complete resection when the volume of the residual tumor was 0 cm3. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were diagnosed with glioblastoma between March 2014 and March 2017. The study included 58 patients who fulfilled all the inclusion criteria. Complete resection was achieved in 24 patients (41.4%) and partial resection in 34 (58.6%). Of these 34 patients, 11 (32.35%) underwent early reoperation. The final result was complete resection in 58.62% of the patients. In the patients who underwent reoperation, OS and PFS were 30.3 months and 16.6 months compared with 12.7 months and 6.75 months in those without reoperation (P = 0.013 and P = 0.012). The functional prognosis was similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early reoperation in patients with residual tumor improved OS and PFS without increasing the number of complications compared with the patients who did not undergo reoperation.

Surgical Outcomes and Comorbidities in Cushing Disease: 30 Years of Experience in a Referral Center.

OBJECTIVE: Cushing disease (CD) is a rare, poorly understood entity. Our aim was to add our clinical experience of >30 years in a multidisciplinary specialized unit to the global knowledge of CD. METHODS: This descriptive retrospective study included all patients admitted to the Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain, from January 1980 to May 2016. All patients had a definitive diagnosis of CD. RESULTS: Total sample included 119 patients; 100 (84%) were female. Median age at diagnosis was 37.97 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 25.89-45.07 years). Median follow-up was 88 months (IQR: 45.50-157.00 months). Most tumors were microadenomas (62/95) (5.1 mm [IQR: 4.0-7.0 mm]) without sinus invasion. Surgical procedures were conventional transsphenoidal surgery (CTSS) (101/108; cured 70 after first attempt) and expanded endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (EETSS) (7/108; cured 5 after first attempt); 11 patients did not receive surgical treatment. Fourteen patients received radiotherapy after a first surgery and 5 patients after a second surgical removal attempt. In 13 patients (12.04%), CD relapse was demonstrated after initial CTSS (median disease-free period 65 months [IQR: 45-120 months]). Ten patients developed panhypopituitarism owing to the surgical procedure (CTSS); 8 patients developed panhypopituitarism after adjuvant radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We observed slightly inferior cure rate after first surgery compared with moderately better relapse rates and time to relapse. Radiotherapy after surgery failure seemed to be more effective than CTSS; however, EETSS may be a valid alternative. Postoperative panhypopituitarism rate after first surgery was lower than expected; after radiotherapy, our results were comparable to other series.

Staged Management of Intracranial Masson Tumor: An Unexpected Gauntlet: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH), also known as Masson tumor, is a benign lesion consisting of a reactive proliferation of endothelial cells with papillary formations related to thrombi. It has been reported in many different anatomic areas. Gross total resection is the elected treatment. Intracranial IPEH is rare, and only a few cases have been reported. This article reports a complicated case of cavernous sinus Masson tumor. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 51-year-old woman presented because of hemicraneal headache, left facial paresthesia, and diplopia (due to a slight left ocular external rectum muscle paresis) that she had experienced the previous 60 days. She had previously received a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type I. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a 3.5-cm contrast-enhanced tumor adjacent to the left cavernous sinus involving the Meckel cave that extended around the distal petrous portion of the left internal carotid artery. Two possibilities as a differential diagnosis were suggested: meningioma or neurogenic tumor. After a staged surgical procedure, the histopathologic findings were unexpected and showed IPEH (Masson tumor) as the cause of the mass. Despite having benign features, the IPEH showed recurrences over time, so adjuvant 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy was initiated. CONCLUSIONS: IPEH is prone to recurrences after subtotal resection. In the present case, successful surgical treatment and adjuvant radiotherapy showed an excellent outcome. To date, no adjuvant therapy has been established as a go-to option.

Primary cerebral malignant melanoma in insular region with extracranial metastasis: case report and review literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary brain melanomas are very infrequent and metastasis outside central nervous system very uncommon. There are some cases in the literature about primary melanoma in the temporal lobe; nevertheless, the insular location has never been described. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient presented as left insular intraparenchymal hematoma with multiple bleedings. Complementary tests did not show any tumoral nor vascular pattern in relation with these bleedings. A complete surgical resection was performed, and the diagnosis of malignant melanoma, with BRAF mutation, was obtained after histology exam. Extension studies were negative for skin or mucous melanoma. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed and a metastatic lymph node was found. The diagnosis was primary brain melanoma with extracerebral metastasis. Dabrafenib 150 mg/12 h was the only chemotherapy during 5 months. After that, Trametinib 2 mg/24 h was added to the treatment. Eighteen months after surgery, the patient is independent, with stable situation, and without new metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Although malignant melanomas have poor prognosis, total surgical resection and new therapies are increasing the overall survival and improving quality of life. In a patient with suspected brain melanoma, in spite of having extracerebral metastasis, aggressive treatment may be considered.

[Complications and outcomes in the elderly with intracranial meningioma]. / Complicaciones y pronóstico de pacientes ancianos diagnosticados de meningioma intracraneal.

OBJECT: Surgical treatment in patients older than 70 years old with intracranial meningioma is still subject to controversy. The benefit/risk ratio of this surgery has not been assessed due to the lack of objective criteria. The aim of this study is to assess the surgical complications and outcomes in elderly patients in our centre. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with intracranial meningioma between January 2010 and March 2014. The incidence of post-surgical complications, as well as their associated risk factors, was also analysed. Functional outcomes were compared with Glasgow Outcome Scale and Karnofsky index with those who underwent surgery and those with conservative management. Finally, a comparison was made between patients younger than 70 years old operated on for intracranial meningioma. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients diagnosed with intracranial meningioma older than 70 years old, of which 37 were operated on and 11 were followed up with conservative management. There were no differences between the groups in neurological status at discharge (Glasgow Outcome Scale 5 67.6 vs. 72.2%, respectively). No differences were observed in functional outcome during 6 months of follow up in the Karnofsky index between surgical and non-surgical patients (P=.486). In the comparison between older and younger than 70 years old, there were no differences in the incidence of surgical complications (P=.64 in early complications and P=.23 in late complications). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that age should not be a limitation in surgical indications in patients older than 70 years old with intracranial meningioma. No statistical differences were found in functional status compared with conservative management or in surgical complications between younger and elderly patients.

Postoperative epidural hematoma contributes to delayed upper cord tethering after decompression of Chiari malformation type I.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic arachnoiditis after posterior fossa surgical procedures such as decompression of Chiari malformation is a possible complication. Clinical presentation is generally insidious and delayed by months or years. It causes disturbances in the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid and enlargement of a syrinx cavity in the upper spinal cord. Surgical de-tethering has favorable results with progressive collapse of the syrinx and relief of the associated symptoms. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 30-year-old male with Chiari malformation type I was treated by performing posterior fossa bone decompression, dura opening and closure with a suturable bovine pericardium dural graft. Postoperative period was uneventful until the fifth day in which the patient suffered intense headache and progressive loose of consciousness caused by an acute posterior fossa epidural hematoma. It was quickly removed with complete clinical recovering. One year later, the patient experienced progressive worsened of his symptoms. Upper spinal cord tethering was diagnosed and a new surgery for debridement was required. CONCLUSIONS: The epidural hematoma compressing the dural graft against the neural structures contributes to the upper spinal cord tethering and represents a nondescribed cause of postoperative fibrosis, adhesion formation, and subsequent recurrent hindbrain compression.