Delayed myelopathy after remote C1-2 sublaminar wire fixation: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Atlantoaxial sublaminar wiring complications, both early and delayed, have been documented. However, delayed neurological compromise 27 years after successful fusion is a rare but possible occurrence. OBSERVATIONS: A 76-year-old male, who had undergone C1-2 sublaminar wire fusion for atlantoaxial instability in 1995, presented with symptoms of progressive right arm weakness, falls, and incontinence of bowel and bladder over a 1-week period. Initial imaging workup revealed bowing of the C1-2 sublaminar wires resulting in cervical spinal cord compression and T2-weighted signal changes. A C1-2 laminectomy was performed to remove the wires and decompress the spinal cord with improvement in the patient's neurological status. LESSONS: This rare case highlights the potential for delayed cervical myelopathy and cord compression from sublaminar wires, even after a successful fusion. In patients with a history of sublaminar wiring who experience new neurological deficits, it is essential to evaluate the hardware for migration.

Observation versus intervention for Borden type I intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula: A pooled analysis of 469 patients.

BACKGROUND: While it is thought that Borden Type I intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) have a benign clinical course, their management remains controversial. METHODS: A comparative meta-analysis was completed to evaluate the outcomes of intervention verses observation of Borden Type I intracranial dAVF. Outcome measures included: grade progression, worsening symptoms, death due to dAVF, permanent complications other than death, functional independence (mRS 0-2), and rate of death combined with permanent complication, were evaluated. Risk differences (RD) were determined using a random effects model. RESULTS: Three comparative studies combined with the authors' institutional experience resulted in a total of 469 patients, with 279 patients who underwent intervention and 190 who were observed. There was no significant difference in dAVF grade progression between the intervention and observation arms, 1.8% vs. 0.7%, respectively (RD: 0.01, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.04, P = 0.49), or in symptom progression occurring in 31/279 (11.1%) intervention patients and 11/190 (5.8%) observation patients (RD: 0.03, CI: -0.02 to 0.09, P = 0.28). There was also no significant difference in functional independence on follow up. However, there was a significantly higher risk of dAVF related death, permanent complication from either intervention or dAVF related ICH or stroke in the intervention group (11/279, 3.9%) compared to the observation group (0/190, 0%) (RD: 0.04, CI: 0.1 to 0.06, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Intervention of Borden Type I dAVF results in a higher risk of death or permanent complication, which should be strongly considered when deciding on management of these lesions.

Utility of transesophageal echocardiography in the identification and treatment of occult mechanisms of cerebral infarction.

Cryptogenic stroke comprises approximately 25% of all cases of ischemic stroke. The diagnostic evaluation of these patients remains a challenge in clinical practice. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been shown to have superior diagnostic accuracy in identifying potential cardioembolic sources of ischemic stroke when compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). However, there has been inconsistent data on the management implications of these new cardiac findings. The addition of TEE to the comprehensive stroke evaluation will better identify potential cardiac sources of embolism (CSE) and will result in significant management changes. A prospective registry of consecutively admitted patients with acute ischemic stroke (1/1/2015-8/10/2020) was retrospectively queried. Patients 18 to 60 years of age with stroke due to mechanisms other than large or small vessel disease, or atrial fibrillation were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome was any high-risk CSE identified on TEE following unrevealing TTE. Of the 2,404 consecutive stroke patients evaluated during the study period, 263 (11%) met inclusion criteria and the median age was 53 (IQR 46-57). TEE was performed in 108 patients (41%). A high-risk CSE was identified in 36 patients (33%), the majority of which were PFOs (n = 29). TEE led to a clinical management change in 14 patients (39%) after identification of a high-risk CSE; 6 underwent PFO closure and 8 had adjustment to their antithrombotic therapy. The addition of TEE to the comprehensive stroke evaluation led to the identification of a high-risk CSE in one in three patients resulting in significant management changes.

Analysis of temporal bone thickness outside of the petrous temporal bone between superior semicircular canal dehiscence and normal patients.

BACKGROUND: SSCD is a rare inner ear disorder. This study aims to compare the thickness of the temporal bone beyond the petrous portion between healthy subjects and those with SSCD to determine whether the etiopathology of SSCD is localized to the petrous temporal bone or generalized to other parts of the temporal bone. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records from September 2011 to February 2018 was conducted at a single-institution study at the University of California, Los Angeles. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 had a confirmed diagnosis of SSCD, while Group 2 had no known ear or temporal bone pathology. Participants' high-resolution coronal and axial temporal bone computed tomography scans were analyzed. Regions within the temporal bone were measured and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 262 scans were included. Group 1 consisted of 103 scans, while Group 2 consisted of 159 scans. There was no statistically significant difference in the thickness of temporal bones between patients diagnosed with SSCD and patients without otologic disease. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the etiology of SSCD is limited to the petrous portion of the temporal bone. SSCD may be unrelated to a larger process of global temporal bone degeneration. Additional clinical screening for regions outside the petrous temporal bone is not warranted unless SSCD patients present with symptoms characteristic of other temporal bone pathologies.

Systematic review and evaluation of predictive modeling algorithms in spinal surgeries.

In order to better educate patients, predictive models have been implemented to stratify surgical risk, thereby instituting greater uniformity across surgical practices and prioritizing the safety and outcomes of patients. The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review summarizing the major predictive models used to evaluate patients as candidates for spinal surgery. A search was conducted for articles related to predictive modeling in spinal surgeries using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. Papers with area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) scores reported were included in the analysis. Models not relevant to spinal procedures were excluded. Comparison between models was only attainable for those that reported AUROCs for individual procedures. Based on a combination of AUROC scores and demonstrated applicability to spinal procedures, the models by Scheer et al. (0.89), Ratliff et al. (0.70), the Seattle Spine Score (0.712), Risk Assessment Tool (0.67-0.7), and the Spine Sage calculator (0.81-0.85) were determined to be ideal for predictive modeling in spinal surgeries and were subsequently broken down into their individual inputs and outputs to determine what elements a theoretical model should assimilate. Alongside the model by Scheer et al., the Spine Sage calculator, Seattle Spine Score, Risk Assessment Tool, and a model by Ratliff et al. showed the most promise for patients undergoing spinal procedures. Using the first model as a springboard, new spinal predictive models can be optimized through use of larger prospective databases, with longer follow-up times, and greater inclusion of reliable high impact variables.

A systematic analysis of stereotactic radiosurgery surveys for residents in neurosurgery training programs.

OBJECT: The use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has increased. SRS training has not risen congruently. Neurosurgeons have conducted surveys and advocated implementation of widespread, standardized radiosurgery training. Here we analyze the SRS surveys conducted throughout the past decade. METHODS: This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic literature review. A broad search of the literature was conducted in October 2018 through the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. This study included surveys evaluating SRS training in neurosurgery and excluded those regarding other specialties. RESULTS: An overview of surveys showed that neurosurgery residents possess gaps in SRS knowledge and procedural competency that have persisted through the past decade. There is an overwhelming sentiment that current radiosurgery training is not adequate to prepare residents for future practice. Our recommendation is for residency programs to integrate formal SRS training electives, with a movement towards creating more options for extended SRS fellowships post-residency. CONCLUSIONS: We present data from SRS competency and current training surveys. Although resident SRS training still lags behind other subspecialties, we see indications for growth. To keep up with the role of SRS in neurosurgery, residencies need more formalized SRS rotations.

Bioengineered recombinant vault nanoparticles coupled with NY-ESO-1 glioma-associated antigens induce maturation of native dendritic cells.

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma prognosis remains grim despite maximal, multimodal management. Recent literature has demonstrated an increase in research devoted to experimental treatments, particularly those relying on the foundations of active immunotherapy with promising results. We hypothesize that the utilization of bioengineered recombinant vault nanoparticles coupled with glioma-associated antigens, such as the NY-ESO-1 peptide, may be capable of stimulating native dendritic cell (DC) maturation and inducing an anti-tumor response. METHODS: Immature DCs were cultured from the bone marrow of 4-6-week-old C57BL/6 mice. The three treatment groups consisted of: (1) DC and media, (2) DC with mCherry vault, and (3) DC with NYESO and vault. DC maturity was assessed via flow cytometric evaluation of CD11c, CD86, and MHC-II. Increase in CD86 Median Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) was analyzed in the CD11c+CD86+MHC-II+ population to determine the extent of maturation RESULTS: Our findings suggest that CP-MVP-NY-ESO-1-INT recombinant vault nanoparticles are efficiently bioengineered with exceptional integrity, are quickly internalized by immature DCs for antigen processing, and result in DC maturation. CONCLUSION: This study reports our preliminary results, which demonstrate the feasibility and progress regarding our immunotherapeutic technique utilizing NY-ESO-1 packaged vault nanoparticles to prime DCs for subsequent anti-cancer therapies.

Intratumor injection of CCL21-coupled vault nanoparticles is associated with reduction in tumor volume in an in vivo model of glioma.

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary adult brain tumor. Current care includes surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. Recent clinical trials for GBM have demonstrated extended survival using interventions such as tumor vaccines or tumor-treating fields. However, prognosis generally remains poor, with expected survival of 20 months after randomization. Chemokine-based immunotherapy utilizing CCL21 locally recruits lymphocytes and dendritic cells to enhance host antitumor response. Here, we report a preliminary study utilizing CPZ-vault nanoparticles as a vehicle to package, protect, and steadily deliver therapy to optimize CCL21 therapy in a murine flank model of GBM. METHODS: GL261 cells were subcutaneously injected into the left flank of eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice. Mice were treated with intratumoral injections of either: (1) CCL21-packaged vault nanoparticles (CPZ-CCL21), (2) free recombinant CCL21 chemokine empty vault nanoparticles, (3) empty vault nanoparticles, or 4) PBS. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that CCL21-packaged vault nanoparticle injections can decrease the tumor volume in vivo. Additionally, this study showed mice injected with CCL21-packaged vault nanoparticle had the smallest average tumor volume and remained the only treatment group with a negative percent change in tumor volume. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study establishes vault nanoparticles as a feasible vehicle to increase drug delivery and immune response in a flank murine model of GBM. Future animal studies involving an intracranial orthotopic tumor model are required to fully evaluate the potential for CCL21-packaged vault nanoparticles as a strategy to bypass the blood brain barrier, enhance intracranial immune activity, and improve intracranial tumor control and survival.

Thinning or dehiscence of bone in structures of the middle cranial fossa floor in superior semicircular canal dehiscence.

BACKGROUND: Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is a rare inner ear disorder; currently, it is unknown whether the etiopathology underlying this structural irregularity affects neighboring structures. The goal is to investigate the prevalence of bone thinning in areas of the middle cranial fossa (MCF) floor in SSCD and non-SSCD patients. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 100 patients from March 2011 to June 2017 at a tertiary referral center. 100 patients undergoing 118 SSCD repair surgeries (18 bilateral) were identified. 12 SSCD ears were excluded due to lack of pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scans or history of prior SSCD repair at an outside facility. Non-SSCD ears were identified from routinely-obtained CT scans for temporal bone fracture (fractured sides excluded) for a total of 101 ears; 26 non-SSCD ears were excluded due to lack of high-resolution imaging. RESULTS: Univariate analyses reveal that SSCD diagnosis is associated with higher rates of geniculate ganglion (GG) dehiscence compared with non-SSCD controls (42.7 vs. 24%; χ2(1) = 9.69,P = 0.008). Individuals with SSCD depicted significantly thinner bone overlying the geniculate ganglion (GG) (0.23 ± 1.2 mm) compared to controls (0.28 ± 1.8 mm, (t(1 6 4)) = 2.1, P = 0.04). SSCD patients presented thinner bone overlying the internal auditory canal (IAC) (0.33 ± 1.3 mm) compared to patients without SSCD (0.46 ± 1.6 mm, (t(2 5 7) = 6.4, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The increased prevalence of dehiscence of the MCF in this cohort of SSCD patients compared to non-SSCD patients suggests that the etiology underlying SSCD affects surrounding structures.

Identification of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) as a molecular marker and correlate for angiogenesis in meningioma.

PURPOSE: Although intracranial meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor in adults, treatment options are few and have traditionally been limited to surgical resection and radiotherapy. Additional targeted therapies and biomarkers are needed, especially as complete surgical resection is frequently not feasible in many patients. METHODS: Non-pathologic brain tissue from 3 patients undergoing routine autopsies and tumor specimens from 16 patients requiring surgical resection for meningioma were collected. EMP2 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. EMP2 mRNA expression was also investigated using surgical specimens and validated by analysis of several independent NCBI GEO databases. RESULTS: EMP2 mRNA expression levels were found to be higher in meningioma relative to non-pathologic meninges (P = 0.0013) and brain (P = 0.0011). Concordantly, strong EMP2 protein expression was demonstrated in 100% of meningioma specimens from all 16 patients, with no observable protein expression in normal brain tissue samples from 3 subjects (P < 0.001). EMP2 expression was confirmed by western blot analysis in five samples, with EMP2 protein intensity positively correlating with histologic staining score (R2 = 0.780; P = 0.047). No association was found between EMP2 mRNA or protein levels and WHO grade or markers of proliferation. However, EMP2 expression was positively associated with an angiomatous pattern on histologic evaluation (P = 0.0597), VEGF-A mRNA expression (P < 0.001), and clinical markers of tumor vascularity such as operative blood loss (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: EMP2 is not found in normal brain tissue, yet has shown consistently high mRNA and protein expression in meningiomas, and may serve as a useful molecular marker for these tumors.

Patient Safety Analysis in Radiation Burden of Head Computed Tomography Imaging in 1185 Neurosurgical Inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a retrospective analysis in a cohort of 1185 patients at our institution who were identified as undergoing ≥1 head computed tomography (CT) examinations during their inpatient stay on the neurosurgery service, to quantify the number, type, and associated radiation burden of head CT procedures performed by the neurosurgery service. METHODS: CT procedure records and radiology reports were obtained via database search and directly validated against records retrieved from manual chart review. Next, dosimetry data from the head CT procedures were extracted via automated text mining of electronic radiology reports. RESULTS: Among 4510 identified adult head CT procedures, 88% were standard head CT examinations. A total of 3.65 ± 3.60 head CT scans were performed during an average adult admission. The most common primary diagnoses were neoplasms, trauma, and other hemorrhage. The median cumulative effective dose per admission was 5.66 mSv (range, 1.06-84.5 mSv; mean, 8.56 ± 8.95 mSv). The median cumulative effective dose per patient was 6.4 mSv (range, 1.1-127 mSv; mean, 9.26 ± 10.0 mSv). CONCLUSIONS: The median cumulative radiation burden from head CT imaging in our cohort equates approximately to a single chest CT scan, well within accepted limits for safe CT imaging in adults. Refined methods are needed to characterize the safety profile of the few pediatric patients identified in our study.

Postoperative Hearing Preservation in Patients Undergoing Retrosigmoid Craniotomy for Resection of Vestibular Schwannomas: A Systematic Review of 2034 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors derived from Schwann cells ensheathing the vestibulocochlear nerve. The retrosigmoid (RS) surgical approach is useful to resect tumors of multiple sizes while affording the possibility of preserving postoperative hearing. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of published literature investigating hearing preservation rates in patients who underwent the RS approach for VS treatment. METHODS: The PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were surveyed for studies that reported preoperative and postoperative hearing grades on VS patients who underwent RS treatment. Hearing preservation rates were calculated, and additional patient demographic data were extracted. Tumor size data were stratified to compare hearing preservation rates after surgery for intracanalicular, small (0-20 mm), and large (>20 mm) tumors. RESULTS: Of 383 deduplicated articles, 26 studies (6.8%) met eligibility criteria for a total of 2034 patients with serviceable preoperative hearing, for whom postoperative hearing status was evaluated. Aggregate hearing preservation was 31% and 35% under a fixed and random effects model, respectively. A mixed effects model was used to determine hearing preservation rates depending on tumor size, which were determined to be 57%, 37%, and 12% for intracanalicular, small, and large tumors, respectively. Significant cross-study heterogeneity was found (I2 = 93%, τ2 = .964, P < .01; Q = 287.80, P = < .001), with rates of hearing preservation ranging from 0% to 100%. CONCLUSION: Tumor size may have an effect on hearing preservation rates, but multiple factors should be considered. Discussion of a patient's expectations for hearing preservation is critical when deciding on VS treatment plans.

United States Medical Licensing Examination step 2 scores do not predict American Board of Neurological Surgery scores: A single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVES: The neurosurgery residency match is becoming increasingly competitive, with numerous factors being considered as part of the application. We aim to determine whether USMLE Step 2 scores were a significant predictor of neurosurgery board performance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Residents who entered a neurological surgery residency program at a single academic institution during 2000-2017 provided scores for all ABNS attempts, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores. Data were deidentified and analyzed for correlation and regression. Pearson's correlation coefficients were determined. RESULTS: USMLE Step 1, Step 2, and maximum ABNS scores were all normally distributed. Step 1 and Step 2 scores were less variable than ABNS scores. USMLE Step 2 and residents' best ABNS written examination scores were not correlated (Pearson Correlation of 0.228 with a 2-tailed significance of 0.272). No outliers were present. When comparing USMLE Step 2 scores with year in residency at which residents scored over 300 on the ABNS written examination, Pearson correlation was -0.500 (p = .015). A simple linear regression was calculated using Step 2 scores to predict the passing year of ABNS written examination (F(1,14) = 6.984, p = .015, R2 = 0.25). CONCLUSION: Although other studies have found correlations between USMLE Step 2 scores and performance before graduating medical school and during residency for other specialties, this is the first study comparing USMLE Step 2 scores with the ABNS written examination scores of neurosurgical residents. Our data showed that USMLE Step 2 was not a reliable predictor of ABNS written examination scores.

Meta-analysis of tumor control rates in patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery for cystic vestibular schwannomas.

OBJECTIVE: The use of SRS for treatment of cystic vestibular schwannoma is a topic of mild controversy. This review serves to introduce a renewed understanding of the efficacy of SRS as a viable treatment modality for cystic VS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A broad search of the literature was conducted in October 2018 through the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Meta-analysis was conducted on tumor control rates and heterogeneity between articles was assessed using τ2, Cochran's Q, and I2 statistics. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients underwent SRS for cystic VS, with reported mean or median follow-up ranging from 49.7 to 150 months, and an overall range of 6-201 months. Following SRS treatment for cystic VS across all studies, 92% of patients had tumor control at follow up, (95%-CI: 88-95%). Tumor control rate specifically for patients who underwent GammaKnife was 93% (95-CI: 88%-95%). CONCLUSION: Despite the paucity of pertinent data, the results of our meta-analysis suggest that SRS exhibits effective tumor control rates in patients with cystic VS. Therefore, SRS can be considered a viable treatment modality when choosing amongst interventions for cystic VS.

Racial Differences in Hospital Stays among Patients Undergoing Craniotomy for Tumour Resection at a Single Academic Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Racial differences in American patients undergoing brain tumour surgery remain poorly characterized within urban medical centres. Our objective was to assess racial differences in operative brain tumour patients at a single academic hospital in Los Angeles, California. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of adult patients undergoing craniotomy for tumour resection from March 2013 to January 2017 at UCLA Medical Centre. Patients were categorized as Asian, Hispanic, Black, or White. Racial cohorts were matched on demographic variables for comparisons. Our primary outcome was post-operative length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes included hospital mortality and discharge disposition. RESULTS: In this study, 462 patients identified as Asian (15.1%), Hispanic (8.7%), Black (3.9%), or White (72.3%). After cohort matching, non-White patients had elevated risk of prolonged LOS [odds ratio (OR)=2.62 (1.44, 4.76)]. No differences were observed in hospital mortality or non-routine discharge. Longer LOS was positively correlated with non-routine discharge [rpb (458)=0.41, p<0.001]. Black patients with government insurance had average LOS 2.84 days shorter than Black patients with private insurance (p=0.04). Among Hispanics, government insurance was associated with non-routine discharge [OR=4.93 (1.03, 24.00)]. CONCLUSION: Racial differences manifested as extended LOS for non-White patients, with comparable rates of hospital mortality and non-routine discharge across races. Prolonged LOS loosely reflected complicated clinical course with greater risk of adverse discharge disposition. Private insurance coverage predicted markedly lower risk of non-routine discharge for Hispanic patients, and LOS of three additional days among Black patients. Further research is needed to elucidate the basis of these differences.

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence postoperative outcomes: A case series of 156 repairs.

Previous studies have looked at differences in predisposing factors, symptomology, treatment options, and outcomes in patients with SSCD experiencing audiologic and vestibular symptoms, however this study utilizes data from the largest series of SSCD patients by a single pair of neurosurgeon and head and neck surgeon to date. The objective was to determine what pre-operative factors, if any, contribute to post-operative outcomes in SSCD patients. A retrospective chart review collected patient demographics, preoperative symptoms, and postoperative symptoms. Nonparametric tests were run using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. Fisher's Exact Tests, Spearman's rho, and McNemar's test for paired comparison of binary measures were performed, with a significance level of P < 0.05. A total of 156 SSCD surgeries were performed within a cohort of 119 patients. The majority of patients were female (n = 75, 63.0%). The median age was 55 years (±12.7 years) and median follow-up length was 0.46 months (range: 0.03-59.5 months). Increased postoperative dizziness and hearing loss was significantly correlated with females (P = .048, P = .041). Additionally, males reported significantly improved postoperative hearing (P = .044) with confirmatory audiometry. Serum ionized calcium levels inversely correlated with age using spearman's coefficient (rs = -.260 P = .037). Postsurgical autophony was significantly associated with bilateral SSCD (P = .01). In conclusion, differences in outcomes between patients may have to do with bilateralism of SSCD or gender effects. Proposed theories concerning a "two hit" hypothesis and about calcium feedback regulation in SSCD may play a role in these findings. Understanding differences between symptomology will help facilitate discussions with future patients.

Timing of adjuvant radiation therapy and survival outcomes after surgical resection of intracranial non-small cell lung cancer metastases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if delay of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) beyond 6 post-operative weeks affects survival outcomes in patients undergoing craniotomy or craniectomy for resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) intracranial metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 28 patients undergoing resection of intracranial metastases and ART at our institution from 2001 to 2016. We assessed survival outcomes for patients who received delayed versus non-delayed ART, as well as associated risk factors. RESULTS: Among 28 patients, 8 (29%) had delayed ART beyond 6 post-operative weeks. Fifteen received stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), 8 (29%) received whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), and 5 (18%) received combination WBRT + SRT. There were no significant differences in ART modality or dosing, age, sex, number of intracranial metastases, primary metastasis volume, rates of chemotherapy, extracranial metastases, or post-operative functional scores between groups. Expected post-operative survival was shorter with delayed ART (7 months versus 28 months, P = 0.01). The most common reason for delayed ART was complicated post-operative course (n = 3.38%). Significant risk factors for delayed ART included non-routine discharge (P = 0.01) and additional invasive procedures between surgery and ART start date (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest delayed ART in patients undergoing surgical resection of intracranial NSCLC metastases is associated with shorter overall survival. However, risk factors for delayed ART, including non-routine discharge and the need for additional invasive procedures, may have in themselves reflected poorer clinical courses that may have also contributed to the observed survival differences.

Sealing of superior semicircular canal dehiscence is associated with improved balance outcomes postoperatively versus plugging of the canal in middle fossa craniotomy repairs: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: The authors compared postoperative symptoms between patients with sealed and those with plugged semicircular canal dehiscence repairs. METHODS: In total, 136 ears from 118 patients who underwent surgical repair for semicircular canal dehiscence were identified via chart review. Data from postoperative MRI scans showing preservation or loss of semicircular canal fluid signal and postoperative reports of autophony, amplification, aural fullness, tinnitus, hyperacusis, hearing loss, vertigo, dizziness, disequilibrium, oscillopsia, and headache were amalgamated and analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with preservation of fluid signal were far less likely to have dizziness postoperatively (p = 0.007, OR 0.158, 95% CI 0.041-0.611). In addition, these patients were more likely to have tinnitus postoperatively (p = 0.028, OR 3.515, 95% CI 1.145-10.787). CONCLUSIONS: The authors found that superior semicircular canal dehiscence patients who undergo sealing without plugging have improved balance outcomes but show more tinnitus postoperatively than patients who undergo plugging.

Age and gender considerations on the symptomology in patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence: A systematic review and case illustration.

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is caused by a fistula in the arcuate eminence, creating vestibular and auditory disturbances. We aim to determine the effects of gender and age on symptom prevalence and resolution in patients with SSCD. A Boolean search was conducted through four separate scientific databases. Full-text English articles for SSCD patients, who underwent surgery were included. Demographics and outcomes were extracted. A total of 198 patients were identified, and available for quantitative analysis. Between genders, there were no differences in the prevalence of pre- or post-operative symptomology. Both genders had statistically significant improvement in symptomatology with females experiencing significantly high rates of hearing loss improvement compared to male patients. Compared to their younger cohort, patients over 65 had similar symptom frequencies before and after surgery with similar rates of symptom resolution. SSCD repair is safe and effective for resolving auditory and vestibular symptoms. Gender and age may not be strong predictors of patient presentation or symptom resolution. Gender and age-associated factors may not influence patient outcomes.

Hearing Preservation for Vestibular Schwannomas Treated with Stereotactic Radiosurgery or Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign intracranial neoplasms arising from the eighth cranial nerve for which targeted radiation therapy (RT) has proved increasingly successful. However, long-term hearing and related cranial nerve outcomes have been disputed for the 3 current RT modalities. OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in hearing preservation for patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), or hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hypoFSRT) for VS. METHODS: A retrospective electronic chart review was conducted for all patients with unilateral VS treated with primary RT at a single academic medical center between 2000 and 2017. The primary outcome measure was preservation of serviceable hearing status in the affected ear at last follow-up. Secondary outcomes included tinnitus, vertigo, and imbalance. RESULTS: A total of 33 FSRT cases, 21 SRS cases, and 6 hypoFSRT cases were identified. Postoperative deterioration in serviceable hearing and tinnitus showed significant differences across cohorts. The SRS cohort had a higher baseline incidence of nonserviceable hearing and disequilibrium compared with other cohorts before RT (P = 0.001 and 0.022, respectively); no differences in baseline morbidity were observed for vertigo and tinnitus. The 5-year tumor control rate was 95.2%, 93.9%, and 100% with SRS, FSRT, and hypoFSRT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our series indicated an excellent tumor control rate in all the modalities. Our SRS cohort showed increased incidence and shorter time to hearing deterioration compared with the FSRT and hypoFSRT cohorts. The FSRT and hypoFSRT cohorts have shown comparable overall outcomes. Onset of post-RT tinnitus was observed only with FSRT.