Trans-lamina Terminalis Approach for Resection of Third Ventricular Tumor.

Granular cell tumors are rare vascular neoplastic lesions of the sellar and suprasellar region that usually arise from the pituitary stalk but can originate as low as the posterior pituitary or as high as the tuber cinereum.1 Complete resection, although ideal, can yield high rates of endocrine or visual morbidity.1,2 On headache workup, a 66-year-old woman was found to have a 1.2 × 1.1 × 1.3-cm contrast-enhancing lesion in the anterior-inferior third ventricle, posterior to the infundibulum. Endocrine testing was unremarkable, and a lumbar puncture was nondiagnostic. An open biopsy and possible resection were selected by the patient over short-interval imaging. A translamina terminalis approach was selected over a transsphenoidal approach to preserve the third ventricular floor (Video 1). A right frontotemporal craniotomy was performed, including flattening of the lesser sphenoid wing. The optic chiasm was exposed via subfrontal microsurgical dissection, and the lamina terminalis was opened sharply. A firm, vascular tumor was identified extending into the anterior-inferior aspect of the third ventricle. Frozen pathologic analysis was nondiagnostic. Given the proximity of the optic chiasm, a complete piecemeal microsurgical resection was performed, preserving the floor and lateral walls of the third ventricle and optic apparatus. Final pathology was a granular cell tumor. Postoperatively, the patient had transient diabetes insipidus, with preserved vision and normal endocrine function on follow-up. The trans-lamina terminalis approach can be used for safe resection of anterior third ventricular tumors. Preservation of the floor and walls of the third ventricle is critical to avoid morbidity.

Biological therapies for the treatment of cutaneous wounds: phase III and launched therapies.

INTRODUCTION: Normal wound healing mechanisms can be overwhelmed in the setting of complex acute and chronic tissue injury. Biological therapies are designed to augment and/or restore the body's natural wound healing abilities. There are a variety of available and emerging technologies utilizing this approach that have demonstrated the ability to augment wound healing. AREAS COVERED: In this review, the clinical data on launched and emerging biological therapies for wound healing applications are summarized. The methodologies discussed include biological skin equivalents, growth factors/small molecules and stem cell-based therapies. EXPERT OPINION: While many products possess convincing clinical data demonstrating their efficacy in comparison to standard treatment options, more robust, controlled studies are needed to determine the relative value among established and emerging biological therapies. Future bioengineering and stem cell-based approaches are of particular interest due to the simultaneous correction of multiple deficiencies present in the nonhealing wound.