A New Sarcoma Shortly after Treatment for High-Grade Glioma with Adjuvant Chemoradiation: A Case Report.

Introduction: High-grade gliomas are central nervous system tumors conventionally treated with surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Secondary cancer due to radiation therapy is a rare yet established phenomenon that typically occurs years after radiation therapy. Case Presentation: In this case, we discuss an early presentation of a second cancer adjacent to the radiation field. This case report is of a 52-year-old male who developed a new scalp sarcoma at the site of primary surgery 8 months after radiation therapy. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense variant in the NF1 gene, a variant of uncertain significance. The report highlights that this case does not conform to the expected criteria for postradiation sarcoma in terms of timing. Conclusion: Secondary cancers may arise earlier than expected, even in phenotypically normal patients, as they may have unmanifested variants of relevant mutations. The question of pre-radiotherapy screening for radiosensitivity syndromes and diseases requires further study, as current data are limited and do not provide enough insight into the significance of different genetic variants.

Persistence of communicating hydrocephalus post choroid plexus tumor resection: Case reports and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is the most common presentation of choroid plexus tumors; it is thought to be caused either by mass effect obstructing the cerebrospinal fluid pathways or secretory properties of the tumor. In these case reports, we present two cases of choroid plexus tumors with persistence of communicating hydrocephalus postoperatively and review similar reports in the literature. CASE DESCRIPTION: Case 1: a 2-month-old baby girl presented with bulging fontanelle, sunsetting eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed large third ventricle mass with communicating hydrocephalus. She underwent complete excision of tumor through transcortical approach with perioperative intraventricular hemorrhage. Hydrocephalus persisted postoperatively and the patient required permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Case 2: a 16-year-old boy presented decreased visual acuity, papilledema, and morning headaches. MRI showed a tumor in the right ventricle and communicating hydrocephalus. He underwent transparietal resection of the tumor. In both cases, hydrocephalus persisted postoperatively and patients required permanent VP shunt. Review of similar cases showed the majority of cases required permanent shunting. CONCLUSION: Choroid plexus tumor patients can present with communicating hydrocephalus that may persist post tumor resection for different etiologies. Careful follow-up to determine the need for cerebrospinal fluid diversion through a permanent VP shunt is important.

Endoscopic Transnasal Resection of Midline Skull Base Meningiomas: Tumor Consistency and Surgical Outcomes.

Background The endoscopic transnasal approach (ETA) has proven to be of great value in the resection of midline skull base meningiomas when compared with traditional approaches. Our objective was to assess tumor consistency in relation to surgical outcomes for midline meningiomas (MMs) resected using ETA. Methods Radiological preoperative features, including the tumor to cerebellar peduncle T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ratio (TCTI), were evaluated. The intraoperative consistency assessment was performed by the surgeon, which determined if the tumor was soft (resectable by suction) or firm (required a cavitation ultrasonic aspirator). Surgical resection and postoperative complications were evaluated in relation to tumor consistency. Results Twenty patients were evaluated; 6 were classified as firm and 14 were classified as soft. The mean TCTI ratio was 1.7 and the median was 1.7 (range: 1.3-2.4). Three firm tumors had a ratio of <1.6. All soft tumors had a ratio of ≥1.6 with three outliers. Additionally, 66.7% of patients with firm tumors had complications compared with 35.7% of patients with soft tumors. Only 33.3% of firm tumors underwent gross total resection (GTR) in comparison to 79.0% of tumors with a soft consistency. Conclusion In our analysis, we found that tumor consistency was significantly related to short-term surgical outcomes in MMs resected using the ETA. The TCTI ratio was found to be the most reliable predictor with a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 40.0%. Our findings suggest that traditional cranial approaches should be considered as the first surgical option for managing firm MMs.

Arteriovenous Malformation of the Upper Eyelid: A Case Report.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare lesions formed by direct connection of arteries and veins bypassing capillary beds. AVM locations can vary; however, extracranial AVMs remain the least common. The vast majority of these malformations are congenital and can be triggered by hormonal changes. A 49-year-old woman presented with a progressive right-sided upper eyelid swelling over the past 12 years. The patient had mechanical ptosis and mild impairment of the right visual field. The swelling was compressible with a thrill, and bruits were heard. The patient was diagnosed with AVM using cerebral angiography. Preoperative endovascular embolization was not possible; however, surgical excision was successfully done with no complications. AVMs and fistulas are high-flow vascular lesions that usually occur during childhood and progress with time. Only a few cases of face and eyelid AVMs have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of these anomalies is mostly made based on clinical presentation and radiographic imaging such as angiography. Treatment options remain controversial, and management should be individualized for each patient. Endovascular embolization followed by surgical excision is advisable in many cases. Due to its rare entity, information regarding the best management options for AVMs is limited. Reducing the risk of bleeding and achieving total resection is the goal of treatment. Long-term follow-up is required in these patients because recurrent cases of AVMs have been reported.

Perception of Neurosurgery Residents and Attendings on Online Webinars During COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications on Future Education.

BACKGROUND: Online education has provided an important tool to continue medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aimed to evaluate trainee and attending perceptions of online webinars as an educational tool in neurosurgery. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study. A web-based 19-question survey was distributed to the people who attended the webinar series that was carried out by the Saudi Association of Neurological Surgery from March 29, 2020 to May 31, 2020. Candidates were identified through their registration e-mails. The survey was distributed June 5-8, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 156 responses were received (survey response rate: 60%). The overall satisfaction rate among residents and attendings (board-certified neurosurgeons) was similar (>80%). However, only 56.4% of attendings reported they were comfortable with online webinars compared with 81.2% of residents (P value <0.0001). Seventy-five percent of residents found online lectures more useful than traditional in-person lectures compared with 52% of attendings (P value = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Online educational webinars provide an educational value that can be considered as an adjunct to traditional (in-person) education methods. Among trainees, the satisfaction of neurosurgery webinars was encouraging to consider as an education method. More objective research and progress are required to adopt and refine existing online didactic and neurosurgical teaching tools while creating more engaging future distant learning models.

Pediatric intracranial hypertension. Experience from 2 Tertiary Centers.

OBJECTIVE: To review the experience of 2 tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia with intracranial hypertension (IH) in the pediatric population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed pediatric patients diagnosed with IH from June 2002 to May 2017 in 2 institutes. RESULTS: We identified 53 patients (30 females and 23 males) with a mean age of 7 years at the time of presentation. Among them, 41 patients were younger than 12 years, and 12 were older. Obese and overweight patients constituted 27.00% (n = 14) of all cases, 8 (66.7%) of whom were older than 12 years. The most common presenting feature was papilledema followed by headache. Vitamin D deficiency, which constituted the most common associated condition, was identified in 12 (22.6%) patients. Acetazolamide was the treatment option in 98.11% of patients, and only 5.7% underwent surgical interventions. The length of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 8 years. CONCLUSION: Intracranial hypertension is rare in children and commonly seen in overweight females older than 12 years similar to adults. Patients younger than 12 years tend to develop secondary IH. More studies are needed to characterize the clinical presentation and guide the management plan.

Endoscopic Transnasal Resection of Suprasellar Teratoma.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial teratomas are rare tumors that usually present during the second decade of life. Among intracranial teratomas, suprasellar germ cell tumors in particular are extremely rare. We present the case of an 18-year-old girl who underwent a successful endoscopic transnasal resection of a suprasellar teratoma with a mixed germ cell component. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 18-year-old girl presented with progressive visual disturbance, headache, weight loss, and fatigue for 2 weeks. She had decreased vision in her right eye and double vision when looking to the right side. On examination, she had right-side complete abducens nerve palsy and partial oculomotor nerve palsy bilaterally. Brain imaging revealed a large suprasellar lesion consistent with a germ cell tumor. The patient underwent a transnasal endoscopic resection of the lesion. Pathology showed a mixed germ cell tumor (80% mature cystic teratoma, 18% yolk sac tumor, and 2% germinoma). The mature teratomatous elements identified included skin with sebaceous material, hair, cartilage, acini, colonic mucosa, muscle, nerve bundles, and adipose tissue. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed residual tumor in the left cavernous sinus and anterior clinoid process superiorly. At a 1-year follow-up, the double vision had resolved, and her vision showed progressive improvement. The patient was maintained on treatment for diabetes insipidus, hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency. Her last MRI showed no signs of tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS: The present case demonstrates a safe endoscopic transnasal surgical resection of a rare suprasellar tumor, mixed teratoma, with intra-axial extension. The endoscopic transnasal approach can be considered a valid option for a suprasellar lesion.

Hemorrhagic colloid cyst.

Colloid cysts are cystic lesions that are usually located in the anterior portion of the third ventricle near the foramen of Monro. Rarely, hemorrhagic cysts can lead to acute obstructive hydrocephalus or sudden death. We herein report 2 cases and a review literature. We examine a 47-year old male who presented with progressive headache and a 55-year old male who presented with progressive memory disturbance and unsteady gait. Both cases demonstrated typical imaging features of hemorrhagic colloid cyst, and were histopathologically confirmed. Total excision was achieved in both cases with good outcomes. Hemorrhagic colloid cysts are rare; however, bleeding tendencies should be carefully considered in patients with these cysts. The degree of rapidity with which clinical deterioration occurs may play a major role in the preferred treatment approach and subsequent outcomes.

Diabetes Insipidus following Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenoma.

Objectives Pituitary adenoma (PA), among the most commonly encountered sellar pathologies, accounts for 10% of primary intracranial tumors. The reported incidence of postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI) is highly variable. In this study, we report our experience with DI following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for PAs, elucidating the risk factors of postoperative DI, the likelihood of long-term DI, and the impact of DI on the length of stay (LOS). Methods The study included 178 patients who underwent endoscopic resection of PAs. Early DI was defined as that occurring within the first postoperative week. The mean follow-up was 36 months. Long-term DI was considered as DI apparent in the last follow-up visit. Results Of the 178 patients included in the study, 77% of the tumors were macroadenomas. Forty-seven patients (26%) developed early DI. Long-term DI was observed in 18 (10.1%) of the full cohort. Age younger than 50 years was significantly associated with a higher incidence of long-term DI ( p = 0.02). Macroadenoma and gross total resection were significantly associated with higher incidence of early DI ( p = 0.05 and p = 0.04, respectively). The mean LOS was 4 days for patients with early postoperative DI and 3 days for those without it. Conclusion The reported incidence of postoperative DI is significantly variable. We identified age younger than 50 years a risk factor for developing long-term postoperative DI. Gross total surgical resection and tumor size (> 1 cm) were associated with development of early DI. Early DI increased the LOS on average by 1 day.

Brainstem encephalitis. A diagnostic dilemma.

Brainstem encephalitis (BE) is a rare, severe, and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the central nervous system. Brainstem encephalitis has multiple etiologies, which vary in treatment and outcomes. The current literature is generally focused on the infectious causes of BE, while little is known about the other entities, including cases with inconclusive diagnoses. Additionally, the outcomes of BE are not well documented. We present a case of an 18-year-old male who presented with progressive symptoms of brainstem involvement. His clinical investigations, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, were normal; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed an enhancing medullary lesion, while tissue biopsy yielded no specific diagnosis. Multiple empirical treatments to address possible autoimmune and infectious processes were started with no significant improvement. He continued to deteriorate over a period of 12 weeks. Thereafter, following intensive supportive and rehabilitative care, he started to show slow signs of improvement.

Endoscopic transnasal suprasellar approach for anterior clinoidal meningioma: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Anterior clinoidal meningiomas (ACM) are traditionally approached through transcranial routes. Due to their tendency to extend laterally and their proximity to vital neurovascular structures, the endoscopic transnasal suprasellar approach is still questionable. We present and describe an ACM case that underwent an endoscopic transnasal suprasellar approach, and provide a review of the literature and operative technique. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 56 year-old lady who presented with chronic left-sided decreased vision. Brain imaging revealed a lesion measuring 9 × 10 × 11 mm attached to the left anterior clinoid process (ACP) and extending to the left optic canal. Lesion was compressing the left optic nerve (ON) and abutting the supraclinoid part of the left internal carotid artery (ICA). Utilizing the endoscopic transnasal suprasellar approach, the meningioma was resected and the optic canal was decompressed. Reconstruction was achieved using fascia lata, vomer bone, and nasoseptal flap. A lumbar drain was inserted perioperatively. Patient had no perioperative morbidity and retained vision in the affected eye. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of selected ACMs can be safely achieved utilizing the endoscopic transnasal suprasellar approach. Although the literature lacks long-term outcome comparison between the transnasal and the traditional transcranial approaches, specifically addressing ACMs, this technique is becoming more popular over the last decade. More efforts should be directed towards implementing and reporting the endoscopic transnasal suprasellar approach for meningiomas of the anterior clinoid process.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in males.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological condition characterized by increased intracranial pressure without an underlying intracranial pathology. This condition is rarely encountered in men and it predominantly affects obese women of childbearing age. We present an interesting case of IIH in a male patient who presented with acute severe vision loss over 2 weeks and was successfully treated via surgery. Although IIH is less common in men than in women, men are more likely to develop vision loss, which is usually severe and less likely to respond to medical treatment. Therefore, surgical intervention might be considered early in the treatment of men with rapidly progressive visual loss. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of early surgical intervention in comparison to medical treatment in this group of patients.

Awake craniotomy. A patient`s perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To report the personal experiences of patients undergoing awake craniotomy for brain tumor resection. METHODS: We carried out a qualitative descriptive survey of patients` experiences with awake craniotomies for brain tumor resection. The survey was conducted through a standard questionnaire form after the patient was discharged from the hospital. RESULTS: Of the 9 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent awake craniotomy, 3 of those patients reported no recollection of the operation. Five patients had auditory recollections from the operation. Two-thirds (6/9) reported that they did not perceive pain. Five patients remembered the head clamp fixation, and 2 of those patients classified the pain from the clamp as moderate. None of the patients reported that the surgery was more difficult than anticipated. CONCLUSION: Awake craniotomy for surgical resection of brain tumors was well tolerated by patients. Most patients reported that they do not recall feeling pain during the operation. However, we feel that further work and exploration are needed in order to achieve better control of pain and discomfort during these types of operations.

Meningiomas of the tuberculum and diaphragma sellae.

Introduction Although tuberculum sellae (TS) and diaphragma sellae (DS) meningiomas have different anatomical origins, they are frequently discussed as a single entity. Here we review the radiologic and intraoperative findings of TS and DS meningiomas and propose a radiologic classification. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 10 consecutive TS and DS meningiomas. Data regarding clinical presentation, preoperative imaging, and intraoperative findings were analyzed. Three sellar dimensions were measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): the tuberculum-sellar floor interval (TSFI), the planum-tuberculum interval (PTI), and the total height. Results Three distinct anatomical patterns were recognized: exclusively tubercular meningiomas (type A) were accompanied by elongation of the TSFI and, more significantly, of the PTI; combined TS and DS meningiomas (type B) were associated with relative elongation of both the PTI and TSFI; and the sole exclusively DS meningioma (type C) was associated with elongation of neither PTI nor TSFI. Conclusion Suprasellar meningiomas can be classified as tubercular, combined, or diaphragmatic based on preoperative MRI. Exclusively tubercular meningiomas (type A) require only a supradiaphragmatic approach. Tumor involvement of the sellar diaphragm (type B or C) requires resection of the diaphragm and thus a combined infra- and supradiaphragmatic approach.

Endoscopic transtubular resection of a colloid cyst.

Colloid cysts, benign outgrowths from the roof of the third ventricle, warrant resection when they become symptomatic. Historically, this has been performed by craniotomy and a transcortical or a transcallosal approach that employs a pair of fixed blade retractors and an operating microscope. Less invasive endoscopic techniques have employed rigid endoscopes with single or dual working channels. We report the use of a tubular retractor as a transcortical port to resect a third ventricular colloid cyst. A 29-year-old woman presented with headache. The brain imaging demonstrated a third ventricular colloid cyst. We describe transcortical, transforaminal resection of a colloid cyst using stereotactically guided placement of a tubular retractor, endoscopic visualization, and bimanual dissection with traditional microinstruments. The increased range of viewing angles of the endoscope within the cylinder of access maintained by the tubular retractor facilitates resection of the cyst through a smaller opening.

Deep venous structures distortion in spontaneous intracranial hypotension as an explanation for altered level of consciousness.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome of low pressure headache associated with low CSF pressure. The condition is generally considered benign but extreme cases of SIH can lead to changes in the level of consciousness. We describe a case in which alteration in the level of consciousness was prolonged and severe, and could not be explained solely by the presence of subdural collections. MRI of the brain showed evidence of impaired venous flow secondary to brain sagging causing distortion of deep venous structures.

Deep venous structures distortion in spontaneous intracranial hypotension as an explanation for altered level of consciousness.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome of low pressure headache associated with low CSF pressure. The condition is generally considered benign but extreme cases of SIH can lead to changes in the level of consciousness. We describe a case in which alteration in the level of consciousness was prolonged and severe, and could not be explained solely by the presence of subdural collections. MRI of the brain showed evidence of impaired venous flow secondary to brain sagging causing distortion of deep venous structures.