Development and evaluation of a mixed reality model for training the retrosigmoid approach.

INTRODUCTION: The use of simulation has the potential to accelerate the learning curves and increase the efficiency of surgeons. However, there is currently a scarcity in models dedicated to skull base surgical approaches. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a cost-effective mixed reality system consisting of an ultrarealistic physical model and augmented reality (AR) and evaluate its use in training surgeons on the retrosigmoid approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The virtual models were developed from images of patients with vestibular schwannoma. The tumor was mirrored to allow bilateral approaches and the model has drawers for repositioning structures, allowing reuse of the material and cost reduction. Pre and post-test assessments were applied to ten residents and young neurosurgeons, divided into control and test groups. Only the control group was exposed to the model. The difference in scores obtained by participants before and after exposure to the models was considered for analysis and participants in the control group answered self-satisfaction questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean differences were 4.80 in the control group (95%CrI = 1.08-9.79) and 5.43 in the test group (95%CrI = 1.67-8.20). The average score of the self-satisfaction questionnaires was 24.0 (23-25). CONCLUSION: The ultrarealistic model efficiently allowed retromastoid access to the cerebellopontine angle. A tendency towards greater gains in performance in the group exposed to the model was verified. Scores from the self-satisfaction questionnaires demonstrated that participants considered the model relevant for neurosurgical training and increased confidence among surgeons.

Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Surgically Treated Parasagittal Meningiomas.

AIM: To assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with parasagittal meningiomas (PSM), and to identify the risk factors for different levels of QoL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were contacted and interviewed via telephone. A total of 136 patients with PSM underwent surgery at our institution between 1984 and 2020. Among them, 45 had agreed to participate in the research. The scales utilized included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General (FACT-G), Brain (FACT-Br), and Meningioma (FACT-MNG). Medical records were also reviewed. RESULTS: The mean KPS was 93.3 (70-100). Overall, the mean scores for the FACT-G, FACT-Br, and FACT-MNG scales were 98.4/108 (55-108; SD: 12.9), 179.3/200 (98-200; SD: 22.4), and 219.3 (119-248; SD: 29.7). Considerable variability in scales scores was observed among those with the same KPS score. Preoperative KPS score was significantly associated with both FACT-Br [-21.64; 95% CrI (-34.04, -9.59)] and FACT-MNG [-31.88; 95% CrI (-47.24, -15.25)]. Preoperative KPS was identified as a risk factor for QoL impairment. CONCLUSION: Variability in the scale scores among those with the same KPS score highlights the importance of structured assessment. Moreover, KPS may overlook impairments in QoL. To date, this has been the first study to assess QoL in PSM patients.

Posterior fossa choroidplexus papilloma in the pediatric population: case series and literature review / Papiloma de plexo coroide na fossa posterior na população pediátrica: série de casos e revisão da literatura

Abstract Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are rare benign neoplasms which are particularly uncommon in the posterior fossa in children. We herein present a case series of five patients treated at a tertiary care hospital. A comprehensive literature review was also carried out. The patients treated at the tertiary care hospital were aged between 4 and 16 years. Gross total resection (GTR) was initially achieved in two patients. All patients showed clinical improvement. Moreover, 27 articles published between 1975 and 2021 were selected for the literature review, totaling 46 patients; with the 5 patients previously described, the total sample was composed of 51 cases, With a mean age was 8.2 years. The lesions were located either in the fourth ventricle (65.3%) or the cerebellopontine angle (34.7%). Hydrocephalus was present preoperatively in 66.7% of the patients, and a permanent shunt was required in 31.6% of the cases. The GTR procedure was feasible in 64.5%, and 93.8% showed clinical improvement. For CPPs, GTR is the gold standard treatment and should be attempted whenever feasible, especially because the role of the adjuvant treatment remains controversial. Neuromonitoring is a valuable tool to achieve maximal safe resection. Hydrocephalus is common and must be recognized and promptly treated. Most patients will need a permanent shunt. Though there is still controversy on its efficacy, endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a safe procedure, and was the authors' first choice to treat hydrocephalus.

Resumo Os papilomas do plexo coroide (PPCs) são neoplasias benignas raras e, na população pediátrica, são particularmente incomuns na fossa posterior. Apresentamos uma série de casos de cinco pacientes atendidos em um hospital terciário. Além disso, foi realizada uma ampla revisão da literatura. Os pacientes atendidos no hospital terciário tinham entre 4 e 16 anos. Ressecção macroscópica total (RMT) foi inicialmente realizada em dois pacientes. Todos os pacientes apresentaram melhora clínica. Além disso, 27 artigos publicados entre 1975 e 2021 foram selecionados para a revisão da literatura, totalizando 46 pacientes. Somados à série de casos atuais, encontramos 51 pacientes, com média de idade de 8,2 anos. As lesões localizavam-se no quarto ventrículo (65,3%) ou no ângulo pontocerebelar (34,7%). Hidrocefalia estava presente no pré-operatório em 66,7% dos pacientes, e derivação ventricular permanente foi necessária em 31,6% dos casos. A RMT foi possível em 64,5%, e 93,8% tiveram melhora clínica. Para os CPPs, a RMT é o tratamento padrão-ouro e deve ser tentado sempre que possível, especialmente porque ainda existem controvérsias quanto ao papel do tratamento adjuvante. A neuromonitorização é uma ferramenta importante para se atingir a máxima ressecção segura. A hidrocefalia é comumente vista nesses pacientes e deve ser identificada e tratada. A maioria dos pacientes irá precisar de uma derivação permanente. Apesar de persistirem controvérsias sobre sua eficácia, a terceiro-ventriculostomia endoscópica foi a primeira escolha para tratar a hidrocefalia na experiência dos autores e é uma opção segura.

Posterior fossa choroidplexus papilloma in the pediatric population: case series and literature review.

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are rare benign neoplasms which are particularly uncommon in the posterior fossa in children. We herein present a case series of five patients treated at a tertiary care hospital. A comprehensive literature review was also carried out. The patients treated at the tertiary care hospital were aged between 4 and 16 years. Gross total resection (GTR) was initially achieved in two patients. All patients showed clinical improvement. Moreover, 27 articles published between 1975 and 2021 were selected for the literature review, totaling 46 patients; with the 5 patients previously described, the total sample was composed of 51 cases, With a mean age was 8.2 years. The lesions were located either in the fourth ventricle (65.3%) or the cerebellopontine angle (34.7%). Hydrocephalus was present preoperatively in 66.7% of the patients, and a permanent shunt was required in 31.6% of the cases. The GTR procedure was feasible in 64.5%, and 93.8% showed clinical improvement. For CPPs, GTR is the gold standard treatment and should be attempted whenever feasible, especially because the role of the adjuvant treatment remains controversial. Neuromonitoring is a valuable tool to achieve maximal safe resection. Hydrocephalus is common and must be recognized and promptly treated. Most patients will need a permanent shunt. Though there is still controversy on its efficacy, endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a safe procedure, and was the authors' first choice to treat hydrocephalus.

Os papilomas do plexo coroide (PPCs) são neoplasias benignas raras e, na população pediátrica, são particularmente incomuns na fossa posterior. Apresentamos uma série de casos de cinco pacientes atendidos em um hospital terciário. Além disso, foi realizada uma ampla revisão da literatura. Os pacientes atendidos no hospital terciário tinham entre 4 e 16 anos. Ressecção macroscópica total (RMT) foi inicialmente realizada em dois pacientes. Todos os pacientes apresentaram melhora clínica. Além disso, 27 artigos publicados entre 1975 e 2021 foram selecionados para a revisão da literatura, totalizando 46 pacientes. Somados à série de casos atuais, encontramos 51 pacientes, com média de idade de 8,2 anos. As lesões localizavam-se no quarto ventrículo (65,3%) ou no ângulo pontocerebelar (34,7%). Hidrocefalia estava presente no pré-operatório em 66,7% dos pacientes, e derivação ventricular permanente foi necessária em 31,6% dos casos. A RMT foi possível em 64,5%, e 93,8% tiveram melhora clínica. Para os CPPs, a RMT é o tratamento padrão-ouro e deve ser tentado sempre que possível, especialmente porque ainda existem controvérsias quanto ao papel do tratamento adjuvante. A neuromonitorização é uma ferramenta importante para se atingir a máxima ressecção segura. A hidrocefalia é comumente vista nesses pacientes e deve ser identificada e tratada. A maioria dos pacientes irá precisar de uma derivação permanente. Apesar de persistirem controvérsias sobre sua eficácia, a terceiro-ventriculostomia endoscópica foi a primeira escolha para tratar a hidrocefalia na experiência dos autores e é uma opção segura.

Glomus jugulare in a pediatric patient: case report and literature review.

PURPOSE: The jugular and tympanic glomus are rare neoplasms in the general population, being even more uncommon in the pediatric population. There is considerable morbidity associated with both disease and treatment. Treatment is essentially surgical, carried out in recent years in a multidisciplinary manner using preoperative embolization associated with microsurgery and eventually adjuvant radiotherapy. The outcome depends on the location of the lesion and its proximity to noble structures in addition to multidisciplinary monitoring in the postoperative period. METHODS: In this article, a literature review was carried out in the PubMed database, finding reports from 17 patients diagnosed with the disease. Only articles in English were considered. RESULTS: Moreover, we reported a case of a 14-year-old patient diagnosed with jugulotympanic glomus who underwent radical surgical treatment of the lesion. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case of jugulotympanic glomus in a pediatric patient, who underwent surgical treatment associated with multidisciplinary therapy, with a favorable postoperative outcome.

Adult giant cerebellar cavernous malformations: case report and review of the literature.

Cavernous malformations are vascular malformations that can occur anywhere in the central nervous system (CNS). Giant cavernous malformations (GCM) are extremely rare in adults, especially in the posterior fossa. Herein, we described a 48-year-old male who presented with vertigo and postural instability for three months. Neuroimaging revealed a 131.15 cm3 heterogeneous midline upper cerebellar lesion. After a suboccipital craniotomy, a gross total resection (GTR) was accomplished. Histopathologic examination revealed a huge cavernous malformation. Only 27 GCM adult cases were reported in the English-based literature. Only two patients had cerebellar lesions and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cerebellar vermis GCM. We concluded that cerebellar GCM (CGCM) in adults are exceedingly rare and indolent lesions. These lesions can radiologically and clinically mimic neoplastic lesions that have to be considered in the differential diagnosis. GTR is the mainstay of treatment and, whenever possible, should be attempted.