Intraventricular ganglioglioma: a rare case report.

We report a case of an intraventricular ganglioglioma in a 23-year-old male. The patient presented with a 3-day history of headache and vomiting. Preoperative brain imaging revealed a calcified lesion within the trigone of the right lateral ventricle, with irregular enhancement, causing entrapment of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle. At surgery, the lesion was haemorrhagic, easily friable and exhibited evidence of a previous recent haemorrhage. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed a ganglioglioma with World Health Organisation Grade 1 characteristics. Gangliogliomas of the central nervous system are uncommon, and rarely occur in the lateral ventricle.

Meningioma-associated abscess: an unusual case report and review of the literature.

Central nervous system (CNS) infection and neoplasm occur most often independently. Their concomitant presentation has been noted across different CNS tumours but is considered a rare entity. The phenomenon is mostly seen in relation to direct seeding of infection via frontal air sinuses. Here, we present an unusual case of an occipital meningioma associated with intraparenchymal paratumoural abscess formation. It is also the second documented to culture methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. We then review and surmise the relevant literature of meningioma-associated abscess. We discuss the clinical presentations, aetiology, suspected pathogenesis, management and outcomes reported.

European trends in epilepsy surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Resective surgery is effective in treating drug-resistant focal epilepsy, but it remains unclear whether improved diagnostics influence postsurgical outcomes. Here, we compared practice and outcomes over 2 periods 15 years apart. METHODS: Sixteen European centers retrospectively identified 2 cohorts of children and adults who underwent epilepsy surgery in the period of 1997 to 1998 (n = 562) or 2012 to 2013 (n = 736). Data collected included patient (sex, age) and disease (duration, localization and diagnosis) characteristics, type of surgery, histopathology, Engel postsurgical outcome, and complications, as well as imaging and electrophysiologic tests performed for each case. Postsurgical outcome predictors were included in a multivariate logistic regression to assess the strength of date of surgery as an independent predictor. RESULTS: Over time, the number of operated cases per center increased from a median of 31 to 50 per 2-year period (p = 0.02). Mean disease duration at surgery decreased by 5.2 years (p < 0.001). Overall seizure freedom (Engel class 1) increased from 66.7% to 70.9% (adjusted p = 0.04), despite an increase in complex surgeries (extratemporal and/or MRI negative). Surgeries performed during the later period were 1.34 times (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.77) more likely to yield a favorable outcome (Engel class I) than earlier surgeries, and improvement was more marked in extratemporal and MRI-negative temporal epilepsy. The rate of persistent neurologic complications remained stable (4.6%-5.3%, p = 0.7). CONCLUSION: Improvements in European epilepsy surgery over time are modest but significant, including higher surgical volume, shorter disease duration, and improved postsurgical seizure outcomes. Early referral for evaluation is required to continue on this encouraging trend.

The evolution of British neurosurgical selection and training over the past decade.

Selection of junior doctors into the British neurosurgical training program and subsequent speciality training have undergone several key changes over the past decade. Shift patterns in the era of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) have had a major impact on surgical training. We discuss the national selection process, formalization of surgical simulation training and the need to encompass generic professional capabilities within the neurosurgical curriculum in order to create the "well-rounded surgeon". Future directions including hybrid cerebrovascular training, training in stereotactic radiosurgery, and dedicated training opportunities in spinal surgery.