Characterizing the presentation, management, and clinical outcomes of patients with intradural spinal chordomas: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Chordomas are locally aggressive neoplasms of the spine or skull base that arise from embryonic remnants of the notochord. Intradural chordomas represent a rare subset of these neoplasms, and few studies have described intradural chordomas in the spine. This review evaluates the presentation, management, and outcomes of intradural spinal chordomas. METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed. Studies describing at least 1 case of intradural chordomas anywhere in the spine were included. Extracted details included presenting symptoms, radiological findings, treatment course, follow-up, and disease progression. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies, with a total of 41 patients, were included in this review. Seventy-six percent (31/41) of patients had primary intradural tumors, whereas 24% (10/41) presented with metastasis. The most common signs and symptoms were pain (n = 27, 66%); motor deficits (n = 20, 49%); sensory deficits (n = 17, 42%); and gait disturbance (n = 10, 24%). The most common treatment for intradural chordoma was resection and postoperative radiotherapy. Sixty-six percent (19/29) of patients reported improvement or complete resolution of symptoms after surgery. The recurrence rate was 37% (10/27), and the complication rate was 25% (6/24). The median progression-free survival was 24 months (range 4-72 months). Four patient deaths were reported. The median follow-up time was 12 months (range 13 days-84 months). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of intradural spinal chordomas primarily involves resection and radiotherapy. A significant challenge and complication in management is spinal tumor seeding after resection, with 9 studies proposing seeding as a mechanism of tumor metastasis in 11 cases. Factors such as tumor size, Ki-67 positivity, and distant metastasis may correlate with worse outcomes and demonstrate potential as prognostic indicators for intradural spinal chordomas. Further research is needed to improve understanding of this tumor and develop optimal treatment paradigms for these patients.

The neurosurgery research & education foundation-young neurosurgeons committee webinar series: Providing education and inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC) and Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) launched the YNC-NREF Webinar Series to provide young and aspiring neurosurgeons with timely information, education, and inspiration in the absence of in-person programming. DESIGN: Five 90-minute Zoom webinars were evaluated, each including 1-2 keynote speakers, a panel discussion, and an audience question-and-answer section. Topics included overviews of neurosurgery, the match, subspecialties, and inspirational career stories. Optional pre- and post-webinar surveys with 11-point Likert-type scores were distributed to attendees. We compared groups using chi-squared and Kruskal-Willis tests, and perceptions pre- and post-webinar using Mann-Whitney tests. SETTING: The webinars were live using Zoom, and the recordings were published on NREF's YouTube channel. PARTICIPANTS: The webinar series targeted young neurosurgeons. The first five episodes had a particular focus on medical students and undergraduates. RESULTS: A total of 673 unique participants attended the webinar series; 257 (38%) and 78 (11%) attendees completed the pre- and post-webinar survey, respectively. Respondents had high baseline interest in neurosurgery and were motivated to learn about the match and training in the US, understand neurosurgeons' day-to-day lives, and ask questions. There were significant differences in perceptions between USMSs, IMSs, and undergraduate students. The webinar improved attendees' knowledge about neurosurgical specialties, the match, and US neurosurgery training. CONCLUSIONS: The YNC and NREF effectively engaged a large, diverse audience through an online webinar series, building a foundation for future virtual programming by organized neurosurgery. ACGME competencies.

The Socioeconomic Distressed Communities Index Predicts 90-Day Mortality Among Intracranial Tumor Patients.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of quality of life and outcomes. However, SES remains difficult to measure comprehensively. Distress communities index (DCI), a composite of 7 socioeconomic factors, has been increasingly recognized for its correlation with poor outcomes. As a result, the objective of the present study is to determine the predictive value of the DCI on outcomes following intracranial tumor surgery. METHODS: A single institution, retrospective review was conducted to identify adult intracranial tumor patients undergoing resection (2016-2021). Patient ZIP codes were matched to DCI and stratified by DCI quartiles (low:0-24.9, low-intermediate:25-49.9, intermediate-high:50-74.9, high:75-100). Univariate followed by multivariate regressions assessed the effects of DCI on postoperative outcomes. Receiver operating curves were generated for significant outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 2389 patients were included: 1015 patients (42.5%) resided in low distress communities, 689 (28.8%) in low-intermediate distress communities, 445 (18.6%) in intermediate-high distress communities, and 240 (10.0%) in high distress communities. On multivariate analysis, risk of fracture (adjusted odds ratio = 1.60, 95% confidence interval 1.26-2.05, P < 0.001) and 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 1.58, 95% confidence interval 1.21-2.06, P < 0.001) increased with increasing DCI quartile. Good predictive accuracy was observed for both models, with receiver operating curves of 0.746 (95% CI 0.720-0.766) for fracture and 0.743 (95% CI 0.714-0.772) for 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial tumor patients from distressed communities are at increased risk for adverse events and death in the postoperative period. DCI may be a useful, holistic measure of SES that can help risk stratifying patients and should be considered when building healthcare pathways.