Retrograde trans-posterior communicating artery rescue balloon angioplasty of incompletely expanded pipeline embolization device: complication management.

BACKGROUND: Pipeline embolization device (PED) deployment is a technically demanding procedure. Incomplete device expansion or deployment is one intra-operative risk, especially in patients with significant vascular tortuosity. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe the case of a 71-year female with an unruptured left vertebral artery saccular aneurysm. Tortuosity of the arteries proximal to the aneurysm complicated deployment and the proximal end of the PED failed to expand despite several maneuvers. The inadequately expanded PED caused flow limitation in the left vertebral artery and it became imperative to achieve wall apposition of the PED. We salvaged the PED from the left vertebral artery by retrograde trans-right posterior communicating artery balloon angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Our case documents the successful application of the rarely used salvage strategy - anterior-to-posterior circulation retrograde rescue balloon angioplasty of an unopened PED.

Investigating the efficacy of allograft cellular bone matrix for spinal fusion: a systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The use of allograft cellular bone matrices (ACBMs) in spinal fusion has expanded rapidly over the last decade. Despite little objective data on its effectiveness, ACBM use has replaced the use of traditional autograft techniques, namely iliac crest bone graft (ICBG), in many centers. METHODS: In accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a systematic review was conducted of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases of English-language articles over the time period from January 2001 to December 2020 to objectively assess the effectiveness of ACBMs, with an emphasis on the level of industry involvement in the current body of literature. RESULTS: Limited animal studies (n = 5) demonstrate the efficacy of ACBMs in spinal fusion, with either equivalent or increased rates of fusion compared to autograft. Clinical human studies utilizing ACBMs as bone graft expanders or bone graft substitutes (n = 5 for the cervical spine and n = 8 for the lumbar spine) demonstrate the safety of ACBMs in spinal fusion, but fail to provide conclusive level I, II, or III evidence for its efficacy. Additionally, human studies are plagued with several limiting factors, such as small sample size, lack of prospective design, lack of randomization, absence of standardized assessment of fusion, and presence of industry support/relevant conflict of interest. CONCLUSIONS: There exist very few objective, unbiased human clinical studies demonstrating ACBM effectiveness or superiority in spinal fusion. Impartial, well-designed prospective studies are needed to offer evidence-based best practices to patients in this domain.

Direct thrombectomy versus bridging thrombolysis with mechanical thrombectomy in middle cerebral artery stroke: a real-world analysis through National Inpatient Sample data.

OBJECTIVE: A paradigm shift in the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO) occurred after 2015 when 7 randomized controlled trials demonstrated better outcomes using second-generation thrombectomy devices combined with best medical management than did stand-alone intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). All recently published landmark trials were designed to study the outcome of mechanical thrombectomy (MT); therefore, the majority of the patients enrolled in these trials received intravenous tPA. Currently, initiating IVT before MT is a matter of debate. Recent trials (DIRECT-MT, DEVT) exploring this clinical question showed noninferiority of MT alone compared with the combined treatment. With this uncertainty, the authors aimed to explore real-world data through the latest National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to compare the safety and outcomes of MT alone with bridging IVT and MT in AIS due to LVO in the middle cerebral artery (MCA). METHODS: NIS data from 2017 to 2018 were analyzed to compare the outcomes and safety profiles of patients who underwent MT+IVT with those who underwent MT alone. RESULTS: A total of 2895 patients were included in the final analysis (MT, n = 1669; MT+IVT, n = 1226). The mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 16.2 (SD 6.1) in the MT group and 16.6 (SD 5.97) in the MT+IVT group (p = 0.04). With respect to comorbidities, the two groups did not differ in rates of hypertension (p = 0.730), atrial fibrillation/flutter (p = 0.828), and smoking status (p = 0.914). The rate of diabetes mellitus was significantly higher in the MT group (28%) than in the MT+IVT group (22.1%) (p < 0.001). The frequency of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the MT group was 17.7% (n = 296) and 21.5% (n = 263) in the MT+IVT group (p = 0.012). Intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.875), subarachnoid hemorrhage (p = 0.99), and vasospasm (p = 0.976) did not differ significantly between the groups. The primary outcome considered was disability status between the groups; 23.8% of patients in the MT+IVT group had minimal disability versus 18.2% in the MT group (p = 0.001). The risk of progressing to severe disability from minimal disability decreased with the addition of IVT to MT (OR 0.762, 95% CI 0.637-0.912). The adjusted odds ratio for ICH in the MT+IVT group was 1.28 (95% CI 1.043-1.571, p = 0.018) and 2.676 (95% CI 1.259-5.686, p = 0.01) for access-site hemorrhages. CONCLUSIONS: In the analysis of the NIS database, the MT+IVT group had significantly higher rates of minimal disability at the time of hospital discharge versus the MT-alone group, despite a higher rate of ICH. The question of whether to treat patients with MT+IVT rather than MT alone is currently being addressed in ongoing prospective clinical trials (SWIFT-DIRECT [NCT03494920], MR CLEAN-NO IV [ISRCTN80619088], and DIRECT-SAFE [NCT03494920]). The results of these studies will contribute to greater understanding and progressive improvement in outcomes for AIS patients.

Preoperative diffusion tensor imaging-fiber tracking for facial nerve identification in vestibular schwannoma: a systematic review on its evolution and current status with a pooled data analysis of surgical concordance rates.

OBJECTIVE Total tumor excision with the preservation of neurological function and quality of life is the goal of modern-day vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. Postoperative facial nerve (FN) paralysis is a devastating complication of VS surgery. Determining the course of the FN in relation to a VS preoperatively is invaluable to the neurosurgeon and is likely to enhance surgical safety with respect to FN function. Diffusion tensor imaging-fiber tracking (DTI-FT) technology is slowly gaining traction as a viable tool for preoperative FN visualization in patients with VS. METHODS A systematic review of the literature in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and those studies that preoperatively localized the FN in relation to a VS using the DTI-FT technique and verified those preoperative FN tracking results by using microscopic observation and electrophysiological monitoring during microsurgery were included. A pooled analysis of studies was performed to calculate the surgical concordance rate (accuracy) of DTI-FT technology for FN localization. RESULTS Fourteen studies included 234 VS patients (male/female ratio 1:1.4, age range 17-75 years) who had undergone preoperative DTI-FT for FN identification. The mean tumor size among the studies ranged from 29 to 41.3 mm. Preoperative DTI-FT could not visualize the FN tract in 8 patients (3.4%) and its findings could not be verified in 3 patients (1.2%), were verified but discordant in 18 patients (7.6%), and were verified and concordant in 205 patients (87.1%). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative DTI-FT for FN identification is a useful adjunct in the surgical planning for large VSs (> 2.5 cm). A pooled analysis showed that DTI-FT successfully identifies the complete FN course in 96.6% of VSs (226 of 234 cases) and that FN identification by DTI-FT is accurate in 90.6% of cases (205 of 226 cases). Larger studies with DTI-FT-integrated neuronavigation are required to look at the direct benefit offered by this specific technique in preserving postoperative FN function.

A comparison of the techniques of direct pars interarticularis repairs for spondylolysis and low-grade spondylolisthesis: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Spondylosis with or without spondylolisthesis that does not respond to conservative management has an excellent outcome with direct pars interarticularis repair. Direct repair preserves the segmental spinal motion. A number of operative techniques for direct repair are practiced; however, the procedure of choice is not clearly defined. The present study aims to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of the different operative techniques and their outcomes. METHODS A meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL ( Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature). Studies of patients with spondylolysis with or without low-grade spondylolisthesis who underwent direct repair were included. The patients were divided into 4 groups based on the operative technique used: the Buck repair group, Scott repair group, Morscher repair group, and pedicle screw-based repair group. The pooled data were analyzed using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Tests for bias and heterogeneity were performed. The I2 statistic was calculated, and the results were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using StatsDirect version 2. RESULTS Forty-six studies consisting of 900 patients were included in the study. The majority of the patients were in their 2nd decade of life. The Buck group included 19 studies with 305 patients; the Scott group had 8 studies with 162 patients. The Morscher method included 5 studies with 193 patients, and the pedicle group included 14 studies with 240 patients. The overall pooled fusion, complication, and outcome rates were calculated. The pooled rates for fusion for the Buck, Scott, Morscher, and pedicle screw groups were 83.53%, 81.57%, 77.72%, and 90.21%, respectively. The pooled complication rates for the Buck, Scott, Morscher, and pedicle screw groups were 13.41%, 22.35%, 27.42%, and 12.8%, respectively, and the pooled positive outcome rates for the Buck, Scott, Morscher, and pedicle screw groups were 84.33%, 82.49%, 80.30%, and 80.1%, respectively. The pedicle group had the best fusion rate and lowest complication rate. CONCLUSIONS The pedicle screw-based direct pars repair for spondylolysis and low-grade spondylolisthesis is the best choice of procedure, with the highest fusion and lowest complication rates, followed by the Buck repair. The Morscher and Scott repairs were associated with a high rate of complication and lower rates of fusion.

Safety profile of superior petrosal vein (the vein of Dandy) sacrifice in neurosurgical procedures: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE Walter E. Dandy described for the first time the anatomical course of the superior petrosal vein (SPV) and its significance during surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. The patient's safety after sacrifice of this vein is a challenging question, with conflicting views in current literature. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the current surgical considerations regarding Dandy's vein, as well as provide a concise review of the complications after its obliteration. METHODS A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough literature search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database; articles were selected systematically based on the PRISMA protocol and reviewed completely, and then relevant data were summarized and discussed. RESULTS A total of 35 publications pertaining to the SPV were included and reviewed. Although certain studies report almost negligible complications of SPV sectioning, there are reports demonstrating the deleterious effects of SPV obliteration when achieving adequate exposure in surgical pathologies like trigeminal neuralgia, vestibular schwannoma, and petroclival meningioma. The incidence of complications after SPV sacrifice (32/50 cases in the authors' series) is 2/32 (6.2%), and that reported in various case series varies from 0.01% to 31%. It includes hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic venous infarction of the cerebellum, sigmoid thrombosis, cerebellar hemorrhage, midbrain and pontine infarct, intracerebral hematoma, cerebellar and brainstem edema, acute hydrocephalus, peduncular hallucinosis, hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, coma, and even death. In many studies, the difference in incidence of complications between the SPV-sacrificed group and the SPV-preserved group was significant. CONCLUSIONS The preservation of Dandy's vein is a neurosurgical dilemma. Literature review and experiences from large series suggest that obliterating the vein of Dandy while approaching the superior cerebellopontine angle corridor may be associated with negligible complications. However, the counterview cannot be neglected in light of some series showing an up to 30% complication rate from SPV sacrifice. This review provides the insight that although the incidence of complications due to SPV obliteration is low, they can happen, and the sequelae might be worse than the natural history of the existing pathology. Therefore, SPV preservation should be attempted to optimize patient outcome.

Intraventricular gliosarcoma with dual sarcomatous differentiation: A unique case.

Gliosarcoma, a variant of isocitrate dehydrogenase-wildtype glioblastoma, is largely a lobar surfacing neoplasm often with dural attachment. In this biphasic neoplasm, the sarcomatous component usually takes the form of fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Heterologous sarcomatous differentiation is a rare phenomenon. Here, we present a case of gliosarcoma with liposarcomatous and myosarcomatous differentiation in a 68-year-old man which was purely intraventricular. This is the first report of such a morphologic pattern in this location. Varied histological components with their immunohistochemical profile are discussed. Of note was the presence of a p53 negative giant cell glioblastoma component, as was the expression in the rest of the tumor.

The 21st-century challenge to neurocritical care: the rise of the superbug Acinetobacter baumannii. A meta-analysis of the role of intrathecal or intraventricular antimicrobial therapy in reduction of mortality.

OBJECTIVE Neurosurgical infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms have become a nightmare that neurosurgeons are facing in the 21st century. This is the dawn of the so-called postantibiotic era. There is an urgent need to review and evaluate ways to reduce the high mortality rates due to these infections. The present study evaluates the efficacy of combined intravenous plus intrathecal or intraventricular (IV + IT) therapy versus only intravenous (IV) therapy in treating postneurosurgical Acinetobacter baumannii infections. METHODS The authors performed a meta-analysis of all peer-reviewed studies from the PubMed, Cochrane Library database, ScienceDirect, and EMBASE in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Five studies were finally included in the present analysis: 126 patients were studied who had postneurosurgical A. baumannii infection. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to evaluate risk of bias, and a test of heterogeneity was performed. The I2 statistic was calculated. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the IV group received only intravenous therapy and the IV + IT group received both intravenous and intrathecal or intraventricular antimicrobial therapy. The outcome was mortality attributed specifically to A. baumannii infection in postneurosurgical cases. The pooled data were analyzed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method in a fixed-effects model. RESULTS The total number of patients in the IV-only group was 73, and the number of patients in the IV + IT group was 53. The mean duration of intravenous therapy was 27 days. The mean duration of intrathecal colistin was 21 days. The intravenous dose of colistin ranged from 3.75 to 8.8 MIU per day. The dose of intrathecal colistin ranged between 125,000 and 250,000 IU per day. The overall calculated odds ratio for mortality for the IV + IT group after pooling the data was 0.16 (95% CI 0.06-0.40, p < 0.0001). The patients who received IV + IT therapy had an 84% lower risk of dying due to the infection compared with those who received only IV therapy. CONCLUSIONS There is an 84% lower risk of mortality in patients who have been treated with combined intrathecal or intraventricular plus intravenous antimicrobial therapy versus those who have been treated with intravenous therapy alone. The intrathecal or intraventricular route should be strongly considered when dealing with postneurosurgical multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections.

Unusual Occurrence of Multifocal Desmoplastic Infantile Astrocytoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Desmoplastic infantile gliomas are rare, benign tumors of the early infancy period. Two histological subtypes - desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma (DIA) and desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma - have been described. The characteristic features of DIAs are lobar location, glial histology, and excellent prognosis after complete surgical excision. DIAs usually present as solitary, cortical-surfacing, solid-cystic neoplasms; however, atypical, aggressive, and multifocal variants of DIA have been reported in the literature. These rare DIAs presenting with multiple lesions pose a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic dilemma. We report an unusual case of an 8-month-old female infant diagnosed with multifocal (cranial and spinal) DIA and obstructive hydrocephalus and discuss the radiological and histological features of this rare variant of DIA. The patient underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement to relieve the hydrocephalus, excisional biopsy from a surfacing lesion in the right frontal lobe, and multiple cycles of chemotherapy; however, the lesions continued to progress, and the patient is likely to have an unfavorable outcome.

Giant Hypothalamic Hamartoma in an Infant: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Giant hypothalamic hamartomas (GHH) are extremely rare lesions in infants and usually intrinsically epileptogenic. We present the case of a 10-month-old girl child presenting with drug-resistant seizures and a giant hypothalamic lesion that was confirmed as hamartoma on histopathology. Surgical decompression and disconnection from the hypothalamus was performed with the intent of controlling her seizures. Unfortunately, the patient developed right middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery territory infarction, possibly due to vasospasm or thrombosis of the vessels. The patient had a stormy postoperative course but has recovered well neurologically at the 18-month follow-up. Histopathological examination revealed abnormal clusters of NeuN-positive neurons, which was confirmatory of hypothalamic hamartoma. A review of the published literature on infantile GHH, its management and the postoperative complications is undertaken in this short report.

Staged 'intentional' bridging vein ligation: a safe strategy in gaining wide access to skull base tumors.

BACKGROUND: The venous drainage of the temporal lobe, through bridging veins to the middle cranial fossa, is pivotal in determining the surgical corridor for skull base lesions. In dealing with select cases, where venous drainage was an obstacle in the surgical approach, we hypothesized that staged 'intentional' ligation of the dominant pathway of venous drainage would provide a safer and wider access to skull base tumors. We study the indications and safety of this surgical strategy in the management of skull base lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2012, 318 patients with skull base tumors were treated at our institute by the fronto-orbito-zygomatic (FOZ) or transpetrosal approaches, eight of whom we planned for staged 'intentional' bridging vein ligation. Seven patients underwent planned ligation of the bridging veins from the temporal lobe to the middle cranial fossa floor in the first stage, followed by definitive surgery through the desired skull base approach, in the second stage, while in one patient the strategy was abandoned. These patients were evaluated with respect to their clinical presentation, pre- and post-operative radiology including venogram, intra-operative findings and post-operative course. RESULTS: Seven patients, four males and three females, with ages ranging from 16 to 63 years, underwent staged 'intentional' bridging vein ligation. The diagnoses were recurrent craniopharyngioma in four, and petroclival meningioma, sphenopetroclival meningioma and spheno-orbital meningioma in one each. Six of these lesions were approached from the dominant (left) side, while one lesion was on the right side. Venograms done after the first-stage procedure showed obliteration of the dominant venous drainage with opening up of anastomotic venous channels in all patients. All patients tolerated the first-stage procedure well; only one patient showed asymptomatic mild temporal lobe edema on MRI, which resolved in 3 weeks. None of the patients had venous complications after definitive surgery. One patient with recurrent chordoma, who was planned for staged ligation, did not undergo ligation as, intra-operatively, the draining channel turned out to be a cortical vein, which could be mobilized without ligation. CONCLUSION: In an attempt to detether the temporal lobe, the disconnection of the bridging veins from the temporal lobe to the middle cranial fossa floor in the first stage may lead to re-direction of the venous outflow over time. This may allow skull base surgeons a better surgical corridor and ensure safety of venous structures during the definitive surgery.

1-Piece Versus 2-Piece Fronto-Temporo-Orbito-Zygomatic Craniotomy: A Narrative Overview of Evolution.

BACKGROUND: The fronto-temporo-orbito-zygomatic (FTOZ) craniotomy is a commonly utilized surgical approach for many complex skull base lesions, especially lesions traversing skull base compartments. This craniotomy has evolved over multiple stages, originating from the classic pterional craniotomy and many variations that have emerged over time. METHODS: Few clinical and anatomic studies have both shaped these craniotomies as well as provided immense information about instances in which they are most useful. We review the origin and history of the one-piece and two-piece fronto-temporo-orbito-zygomatic craniotomy and deliberate their advantages and disadvantages. RESULTS: The FTOZ craniotomy provides access to the orbit as well as to multiple compartments in the cranium (anterior, middle and upper third posterior cranial fossae); thus, offering a multi-corridor approach to complex skull base lesions. The one-piece and two-piece fronto-temporo-orbitozygomatic craniotomies are two particularly notable variations that have stood the test of time. Selection between the two variations is mostly surgeon preference and comfort with the technique; however, there are certain indications that specifically suit each approach. Additionally, a pictorial review has been crafted to clearly illustrate the cuts to be made in both methods. CONCLUSION: Understanding the evolution of this craniotomy and surgical approach provides an insight into accessing complex skull base pathologies with minimal brain retraction via safe and viable corridors.

Microsurgical clipping and endovascular management of unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms: how age, frailty, and comorbidity indexes influence outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Frailty is one of the important factors in predicting the outcomes of surgery. Many surgical specialties have adopted a frailty assessment in the preoperative period for prognostication; however, there are limited data on the effects of frailty on the outcomes of cerebral aneurysms. The object of this study was to find the effect of frailty on the surgical outcomes of anterior circulation unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) and compare the frailty index with other comorbidity indexes. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2016-2018). The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) was used to assess frailty. On the basis of the HFRS, the whole cohort was divided into low-risk (0-5), intermediate-risk (> 5 to 15), and high-risk (> 15) frailty groups. The analyzed outcomes were nonhome discharge, complication rate, extended length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: In total, 37,685 patients were included in the analysis, 5820 of whom had undergone open surgical clipping and 31,865 of whom had undergone endovascular management. Mean age was higher in the high-risk frailty group than in the low-risk group for both clipping (63 vs 55.4 years) and coiling (64.6 vs 57.9 years). The complication rate for open surgical clipping in the high-risk frailty group was 56.1% compared to 0.8% in the low-risk group. Similarly, for endovascular management, the complication rate was 60.6% in the high-risk group compared to 0.3% in the low-risk group. Nonhome discharges were more common in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group for both open clipping (87.8% vs 19.7%) and endovascular management (73.1% vs 4.4%). Mean hospital charges for clipping were $341,379 in the high-risk group compared to $116,892 in the low-risk group. Mean hospital charges for coiling were $392,861 in the high-risk frailty group and $125,336 in the low-risk group. Extended length of stay occurred more frequently in the high-risk frailty group than in the low-risk group for both clipping (82.9% vs 10.7%) and coiling (94.2% vs 12.7%). Frailty had higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values than those for other comorbidity indexes and age in predicting outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty affects surgical outcomes significantly and outperforms age and other comorbidity indexes in predicting outcome. It is imperative to include frailty assessment in preoperative planning.

Primary Treatment of Small to Medium (<3 cm) Sporadic Vestibular Schwannomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Hearing Preservation and Tumor Control Rates for Microsurgery versus Radiosurgery.

BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis of patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) primarily treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or microsurgery (MS) was performed, and hearing preservation outcome (HPO), tumor control (TC), and facial nerve dysfunction (FND) were analyzed. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted (Medline and Scopus database) for the period January 2010-June 2020 with appropriate MeSH. English language articles for small to medium sporadic VS (<3 cm) using SRS or MS as primary treatment modality, with minimum follow-up of 3 years, were included. Studies had to report an acceptable standardized hearing metric. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria: 10 MS; 23 radiosurgery, and 1 comparative study included in both. HPO, at approximately 65 months follow-up, were comparable between MS group (10 studies; 809 patients) and SRS group (23 studies; 1234 patients) (56% vs. 59%; P = 0.1527). TC, at approximately 70 months follow-up, was significantly better in the MS group (9 studies; 1635 patients) versus the SRS group (19 studies; 2260 patients) (98% vs. 92%; P < 0.0001). FND, at approximately 12 months follow-up, was significantly higher in the MS group (8 studies; 1101 patients) versus the SRS group (17 studies; 2285 patients) (10% vs. 2%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: MS and SRS are comparable primary treatments for small (<3 cm) sporadic VS with respect to HPO at 5-year follow-up in patients with serviceable hearing at presentation; approximately 50% of patients for both modalities likely lose serviceable hearing by that time point. High TC rates (>90%) were seen with both modalities; MS 98% versus SRS 92%. The posttreatment FND was significantly less with the SRS group (2%) versus the MS group (10%).

Primary Tumors of the Posterior Pituitary Gland: A Systematic Review of the Literature in Light of the New 2017 World Health Organization Classification of Pituitary Tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The rare clinical entity of primary posterior pituitary tumors (PPTs) includes pituicytomas, granular cell tumors, spine cell oncocytomas, and sellar ependymomas. The recent World Health Organization classification of PPTs based on thyroid transcription factor 1 positivity has led to more investigations into the epidemiology, clinical presentation, nature history, histologic features, and operative characteristics of these tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize the characteristics of primary PPTs. METHODS: Our summary involved an in-depth review of the literature on PPTs. Our systematic review was carried out using the PubMed database and PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: An initial search identified 282 publications. After strict application of the inclusion criteria, we found 16 articles for case series of patients with primary PPT (N > 5), which were included in our table for literature review. An additional 10 articles were review articles on PPTs published in the last 20 years and were used as resource for our systematic review. An extensive analysis was then performed to extract relevant clinical data with respect to the clinical radiologic histopathologic profile of primary PPTs and their treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Primary PPTs are a rare group of pituicyte-derived low-grade nonneuroendocrine neoplasms that arise from the sellar region. The nondescript radiographic findings and subtle endocrine abnormalities also veil their accurate diagnostic prediction. As shown through the narrative as well as the literature review, there is still a lot to be understood about PPTs. A prospective multicenter registry of these rare tumors would benefit both the neurosurgical as well as the endocrinologic knowledge base.

Cerebral Revascularization for Moyamoya Syndrome Associated with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature on the Role of Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass in Treating Neurologic Manifestations of Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) accentuates the risk of recurrent strokes. Chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) is an excellent option for preventing recurrent strokes in most patients with SCD. In SCD with MMS, CTT may fail as a long-term solution. Cerebral revascularization, in the form of extracranial-intracranial bypass, has been shown to prevent recurrent strokes in this cohort. We review the evolution of this paradigm shift in the management of SCD-associated MMS. A systematic review, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, was conducted. Our primary objectives were 1) to study the evolution of cerebral revascularization techniques in management of MMS in SCD and 2) to analyze the impact of neurosurgical intervention in this high-risk population. Four patients with SCD-associated MMS, who underwent indirect cerebral revascularization at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. A summary of 13 articles chronicling the advent and subsequent evolution of cerebral revascularization as a viable treatment strategy for stroke prevention in SCD-associated MMS is presented. The literature review suggests that early detection and surgical intervention (in addition to CTT) could significantly reduce stroke recurrence and improve neurocognitive outcome. Our short series of 4 patients also had a good outcome and no recurrence of strokes postoperatively. The literature emphasizes the use of a traditional standardized protocol for early identification (transcranial Dopplers, selective magnetic resonance angiography, and CTT). Early treatment and screening that involves early magnetic resonance angiography and referral to neurosurgery for revascularization may be considered for this high-risk population.