Adult idiopathic bilateral occlusion of foramen of Monro: Systematic review with illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Adult idiopathic occlusion of foramen of Monro (AIOFM) is a rare condition that results in hydrocephalus, and bilateral presentation is even rarer. Here we report a case of idiopathic bilateral stenosis of the foramen of Monro in an adult patient and performed a systematic literature review on the current treatment options and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of SCOPUS, Science Direct, and PubMed databases in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, type of AIOFM, treatment, and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: A total of 22 cases of bilateral AIOFM were identified in the literature, including ours. The median age was 38.5 years (range: 20-53), with no sex predilection. The most common presenting symptoms were headache (n=16, 73%) and vomiting (n=10, 45%). There were 9 cases of Type 1 AIOFM (stenosis) and 13 cases of Type 2 (membrane occlusion). Majority of patients underwent surgical treatment, mostly endoscopic unilateral foraminoplasty and septostomy (59%), followed by ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion (31%). One patient underwent medical management only to alleviate her presenting symptoms (seizures). The overall outcome was good for majority of patients at a median follow-up of 6 months. CONCLUSION: Bilateral AIOFM is a rare condition that may easily be missed, so neurosurgeons should be cognizant of this disease entity. Identification of the type of AIOFM may guide surgical decision-making. Treatment options include neuroendoscopic procedures such as septostomy and foraminoplasty, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion.

Pediatric fibromyxoid brachial plexus tumor with YWHAZ::PLAG1 gene fusion: a case report.

Pediatric fibromyxoid soft tissue tumors may be associated with gene fusions such as YHWAZ::PLAG1, with only three reported cases in the literature. We present the fourth case, a 13-year-old male with a pediatric fibromyxoid brachial plexus tumor with YWHAZ::PLAG1 gene fusion. This is also the first case to be reported in an adolescent, in the brachial plexus, and in the Philippines. The patient presented with a 10-year history of a slowly growing left supraclavicular mass and a 1-year history of intermittent dysesthesia in the left upper extremity. Neurologic examination was unremarkable. Imaging revealed a large left supraclavicular lesion with intrathoracic extension. Surgical excision was performed, and histopathology revealed a fibromyxoid tumor with YWHAZ::PLAG1 gene fusion. Although previous examples of this gene fusion pointed toward lipoblastoma as their primary pathology, our tumor does not completely fulfill the current diagnostic criteria for a lipoblastoma and may represent an intermediate form of the disease. Our case is unique not only because it is the first reported adolescent patient harboring such a lesion but also because of the relatively lengthy natural history exhibited by the tumor prior to its resection. This provided us with valuable information about its behavior, which suggests a more indolent growth pattern. This case also highlights the clinical importance of molecular testing of tumors, where recognition of disease entities can assist clinicians in deciding and advocating for the proper management.

Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound pallidothalamic tractotomy for patients with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism: a study protocol.

Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive method for controlling tremor and has recently been used in patients with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP). This study aims to determine the improvement in dystonia and parkinsonism in patients with XDP after MRgFUS pallidothalamic tractotomy. This prospective study will be conducted at the Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila. The primary outcome measure is the change in the pre- and post-treatment XDP-Movement Disorder Society of the Philippines Scale scores. In addition, demographic and clinical data will be collected, including the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale, Part III of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale score, XDP clinical and functional stage, the five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire, Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores, MRgFUS treatment parameters, and adverse events. Patients will be assessed within 24 hours of treatment, then at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months post-treatment. This protocol was approved by the University of the Philippines Manila Research Ethics Board (UPMREB 2022-0271-01). Data collection began in January 2023. This protocol has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: Trial Registration number: NCT05592028.

Time to Care: Analysis of Time Differences and Outcomes in the Management of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury for a High-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Country.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cranial trauma is the leading cause of acquired death and disability in children worldwide. However, trauma resources vary widely among countries. We sought to compare management and timely access to care between a level 1 U.S. pediatric trauma center and a tertiary referral hospital in a lower-middle-income country to assess whether system and resource differences influence care and outcomes. METHODS: We compared data from 214 pediatric head trauma admissions to Philippine General Hospital (Manila) with 136 children from the TRACK-TBI pediatrics study cohort at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Admitted MGH patients were compared with the Philippine cohort regarding demographics; mechanism of injury; times to neurosurgical consult, imaging, and surgery; in-hospital mortality; and length of hospitalization. RESULTS: Age (9 years), gender distribution (67% male), and presenting Glasgow Coma Scale scores were similar (P = 0.10) between sites. More children had intracranial injury in the Philippine cohort (73% vs. 60%; n = 319) and more underwent neurosurgery (27% vs. 4%). Times to consult, imaging, and surgery were longer in the Philippines (12.3 vs. 6.5, 12.0 vs. 2.8, and 45.4 vs. 5.6 hours, respectively). In-hospital mortality across all admissions was similar between cohorts (3% vs. 0%; P = 0.09), but significantly higher in the most severe Philippines cases (31% vs. 0%, P=0.04). Length of stay was longer (5 vs. 2 days; P < 0.001) in the Philippine cohort. CONCLUSIONS: High-income country status correlated with faster care, shorter hospitalizations, and better outcomes among severe cases. Prompt care through sophisticated trauma system implementation may improve pediatric health in resource-limited settings.

Cortical mapping in multilinguals undergoing awake brain surgery for brain tumors: Illustrative cases and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Awake brain mapping in multilingual patients with brain tumors presents unique challenges to the neurosurgeon. Knowledge of potential eloquent sites is vital to preserve language function. METHODS: We present two cases of pars opercularis glioma and perform a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Our review yielded 7 studies, with a total of 25 multilingual brain tumor patients who underwent awake brain mapping. The age ranged from 25 to 62 years. Majority were female (56.5%). Most (52%) were trilingual, while 20% were quadrilingual and 28% were pentalingual. All tumors were left-sided, mostly in the frontal lobe. These were predominantly gliomas. Extent of resection was gross total in 61%. The brain mapping findings were heterogeneous. Some authors reported a greater number of cortical sites for the first language compared to others. Others found that the first and second languages shared cortical sites whereas the third and subsequent languages were located in distant sites. The peri-Sylvian area was also found to be involved in language that was learned at an earlier age. Subsequent languages thus involved more distant sites. A larger number of cortical areas were also activated for languages that were learned later in life. In terms of language disturbance and recovery, there were mixed results. CONCLUSION: Cortical mapping in multilingual brain tumor patients showed heterogeneity in terms of the location and number of language areas in the face of pathology. These findings may influence neurosurgical and oncological management of tumors in the speech area but emphasize the need to tailor surgical approaches and intraoperative testing to the patient.

Calvarial metastasis from malignant pheochromocytoma associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia.

Background: Malignant pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that may metastasize to the bones, liver, lungs, kidneys, and lymph nodes. Cerebral and skull metastases are even rarer, with only 17 cases reported in the literature. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a purely calvarial metastasis from malignant pheochromocytoma associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A). Case Description: A 31-year-old Filipino man diagnosed with MEN2A was found to have elevated urine metanephrine on routine surveillance, and workup revealed right adrenal and hepatic masses and a focus of intense tracer accumulation on the right frontal bone on metaiodobenzylguanidine I-123 scan. All the newly discovered lesions were resected to achieve tumor control. Histopathology revealed a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma for the calvarial lesion. Conclusion: Malignant pheochromocytoma may give rise to indolent metastatic foci that can easily be missed without a thorough examination. Misdiagnosis and delays in management of this disease can be detrimental, resulting in irreversible complications and death.

Successful conservative management of a large acute epidural hematoma in a patient with arrested hydrocephalus: A case report.

Background: Arrested hydrocephalus is a condition wherein congenital hydrocephalus spontaneously ceases to progress due to a balance between production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. These patients rarely present with pressure symptoms so conservative treatment may be instituted. There are, however, little data on the long-term outcomes of these patients and how they present in the presence of other intracranial pathologies as they transition into adulthood. We aim to add to the growing knowledge about the management of patients with arrested hydrocephalus who have sustained traumatic hematomas. Case Description: To the best of our knowledge, we present the only reported case of a 34-year-old female with arrested hydrocephalus who sustained an acute epidural hematoma secondary to a fall and underwent a conservative management. She was asymptomatic except for mild headache that started on the 3rd day postinjury and was thus treated conservatively with favorable outcomes. A review of literature showed that adults with arrested hydrocephalus may develop intracranial hematomas after head injuries despite them manifesting with little or no symptoms. The hydrocephalus may have provided them with a form of internal decompression thus delaying symptomatology. Conclusion: Clinicians should be vigilant as these patients will present with either delayed or completely without neurologic symptomology. Tailored and individualized management of other intracranial pathologies should be adapted in this subset of patients.

Patient-reported intraoperative experiences during awake craniotomy for brain tumors: a scoping review.

Awake craniotomy (AC) is a neurosurgical procedure that may be used to excise tumors located in eloquent areas of the brain. The techniques and outcomes of AC have been extensively described, but data on patient-reported experiences are not as well known. To determine these, we performed a scoping review of patient-reported intraoperative experiences during awake craniotomy for brain tumor resection. A total of 21 articles describing 534 patients were included in the review. Majority of the studies were performed on adult patients and utilized questionnaires and interviews. Some used additional qualitative methodology such as grounded theory and phenomenology. Most of the evaluation was performed within the first 2 weeks post-operatively. Recollection of the procedure ranged from 0 to 100%, and most memories dealt with the cranial fixation device application, cranial drilling, and intraoperative mapping. All patients reported some degree of pain and discomfort, mainly due to the cranial fixation device and uncomfortable operative position. Most patients were satisfied with their AC experience. They felt that participating in AC gave them a sense of control over their disease and thought that trust in the treatment team and adequate pre-operative preparation were very important. Patients who underwent AC for brain tumor resection had both positive and negative experiences intraoperatively, but overall, majority had a positive perception of and high levels of satisfaction with AC. Successful AC depends not only on a well-conducted intraoperative course, but also on adequate pre-operative information and patient preparation.

Resources for Operative Neurosurgical Education Among Trainees in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Operative neurosurgical skills education is a vital part of neurosurgical training, and these skills are usually obtained through operating room experience and supplemented by textbooks and other resources. We aimed to determine the resources used by trainees in the Philippines, both prior to and after the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was sent to neurosurgical trainees in the Philippines from January to March 2021. Data on demographics, educational resources used, and weekly hours spent on each were collected, for both the pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 periods. RESULTS: A total of 37 neurosurgical trainees (60% response rate) participated in the survey. Most respondents were female (70%), in their senior levels (58%), and undergoing training in a public institution (65%). The main resources for operative neurosurgical education were operative experience, online academic resources, and neurosurgical textbooks. After the onset of the pandemic, the overall time spent decreased to 61.2 hours/week from 67.7 hours/week, with a significant reduction in the hours spent on operative experience (27.3 vs. 21.3 hours/week, P < 0.0001) and a significant increase in the time spent on webinars (0 vs. 3.2 hours/week, P < 0.0001) and online resources as a whole (14.9 vs. 16.4 hours/week, P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Operative experience, online academic resources, and neurosurgical textbooks were the main resources for operative neurosurgical education among trainees in the Philippines. After the onset of the pandemic, the hours spent on operative experience decreased and online academic resources increased significantly. New avenues of neurosurgical education, particularly webinars, also became available locally.

Intraventricular Bone Dust Migration after Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy: Illustrative Report of 2 Cases.

INTRODUCTION: Autologous bone dust replacement is a commonly used technique to seal a defect created from a burr hole. However, postoperative migration of these bone fragments may occur as an uncommon complication of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). CASE PRESENTATION: We report 2 cases of intraventricular bone dust migration resulting in acute hydrocephalus from physical obstruction of the stoma and infection. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: From our 2 cases as well as other reported cases, the bone dust may have acted as a foreign body and served as a nidus of infection, in addition to causing physical obstruction. A lumbar puncture performed after ETV may have resulted in a suction effect of the bone dust from the burr hole into the ventricular system. Both our cases necessitated urgent surgical intervention to extract the bone fragments and restore CSF flow. Because of its potential complications, we recommend against using autologous bone dust for closure of a burr hole defect after ETV.

Perceptions and Likelihood of Medical Students to Pursue a Career in Neurosurgery: Findings from the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: The number of neurosurgeons in the Philippines is less than ideal for its population, so there is a need to recruit and train more. This study aimed to determine medical students' perception of neurosurgery and their likelihood of pursuing a career in this specialty. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of medical students in the Philippines to assess their perceptions and likelihood of pursuing a career in neurosurgery. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a χ2 test with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 627 medical students completed the survey, with a response rate of 72.4%. The mean age was 23.8 years, and almost half (49.1%) were women. They had mostly negative perceptions of neurosurgery, and only 18.7% were likely to pursue a career in this specialty. Reasons included poor work-life balance, poor understanding of neuroscience and neurosurgery, and the self-perceived lack of manual dexterity. The most common sources of their perceptions included lectures, movies, and neurosurgery residents and consultants whom they met in hospital. Previous exposure to neurosurgery lectures or rotations, going back to their hometown to work, and having a physician parent were associated with a higher likelihood of pursuing neurosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that medical students' perceptions of neurosurgery were generally negative and that only 18.7% were likely to pursue it as a career. Major changes would have to be made to improve students' perceptions to attract more students to the field and increase the neurosurgical workforce.

A meta-analysis on the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms: exposing critical treatment gaps.

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are a significant cause of anxiety and depression. Though the annual rupture rate is relatively low, ensuing mortality and morbidity may be high. Most published studies have focused on functional outcomes; however, limited studies have explored and reported on psychiatric outcomes, which are equally important. We aimed to review existing data on anxiety and depression in patients with UIAs. We systematically searched the databases of Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus, EBSCOHOST, and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies that reported on anxiety and depression in patients with UIAs. Where available, we also reported data on aneurysm characteristics, treatment modalities, and functional outcomes of these populations. We performed a meta-analysis of proportions by random-effects modeling to compute the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with UIAs. Eighteen studies reporting a total of 1413 patients with UIAs were included in the systematic review. The mean age was 57.8 (range 27-79); 64% of whom were female. Random-effect modeling analysis showed an overall estimated prevalence of 28% [95% CI: 0.17-0.42] for anxiety and 21% [95% CI: 0.13-0.33] for depression among patients with UIAs. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of these conditions between treated vs untreated aneurysms. Our review highlights the heterogeneity of data from existing studies and the lack of standardized methodologies in determining psychiatric outcomes in patients with UIAs. It was also limited by the small sample sizes and patient counseling bias in the included studies. Larger, well-designed epidemiologic studies on patients with UIA should include more representative samples, assess for predictors of psychological outcomes, and explore the most optimal psychiatric assessment tools.

Socioeconomic factors affecting survivorship of glioblastoma patients in the Philippines.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults worldwide. However, data on the survivorship of GBM patients in low- and middle-income countries is sparse. We determined whether socioeconomic factors such as marital status, place of residence, educational attainment, employment status, and income affected survival. A retrospective cohort study of surgically managed GBM patients (n = 48) in a single center over a five-year period was conducted using chart review and telephone interview. The mean age was 41 years, with a male predilection (62%). Most patients were married (73%), employed full time (79%), resided in a rural location (56%), completed secondary education (44%), and had a low income (83%). Most of the tumors were > 5 cm at the time of diagnosis (90%) and involved more than one lobe (40%). Majority underwent subtotal resection (56%). Only 15% (n = 7) had adjuvant chemoradiation while 23% (n = 11) had radiotherapy alone. Median overall survival was 7.6 months. Multivariate analysis showed that extent of resection (gross total resection, p = 0.0033; subtotal resection, p = 0.0069) and adjuvant treatment (p = 0.0254) were associated with improved survival, while low income (p = 0.0178) and educational (p = 0.0206) levels and part-time employment (p = 0.0063) were associated with decreased survival. Many GBM patients at our center presented at an advanced stage in their natural history, and majority (62%) did not receive adjuvant treatment after surgery. As such, the median overall survival was less than that reported in developed countries. Of the socioeconomic factors analyzed, low income and educational levels and part-time employment were negatively associated with survivorship.

Extensive neuritis ossificans of the sciatic nerve: Systematic review and illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Neuritis ossificans is a rare disease described as heterotopic calcification that occurs in neural tissue such as nerves. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature was done in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. An illustrative case of neuritis ossificans of the sciatic nerve in an 18 year old man was also reported. RESULTS: The review yielded 17 previously reported cases of neuritis ossificans. There was a male predominance and the most common locations were the median and tibial nerves. Only 2 previous cases involved the sciatic nerve. Most were treated with excision with positive outcomes. Our case was treated initially with a biopsy, then partial excision and symptomatic management with NSAIDs and GABA inhibitors. He had a good outcome at 13 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Neuritis ossificans is a rare disease with unclear pathophysiology that has been theorized to involve neuroinflammation. Treatment consists of excision, if deemed possible, and symptom control.

Isolated Cranial Nerve VI Palsy and Neurosyphilis: A Case Report and Review of Related Literature.

An isolated cranial nerve VI palsy is a rare initial manifestation of undiagnosed neurosyphilis. A 33-year-old male presented with a one month history of progressive headache and diplopia. Neurologic examination only revealed an isolated abducens palsy on the left. Cranial imaging was unremarkable. Examination of his cerebrospinal fluid revealed lymphocytic predominant leukocytosis and elevated protein. Microbiologic work-up were all negative. Further work-up revealed the patient to be serum Rapid Plasma Reagin and Enzyme Immunoassay reactive. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Human Immunodeficiency Virus also tested positive. His cerebrospinal fluid was then sent for Rapid Plasma Reagin to confirm the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. He completed 14 days of intravenous penicillin and was eventually discharged with partial resolution of the abducens palsy. We describe the second case of neurosyphilis presenting only with an isolated cranial nerve VI involvement. On further review, ours was the first case documented on an individual who had an undiagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. There are various differentials for an isolated cranial neuritis but infectious causes, particularly neurosyphilis, should be considered among young individuals with known risk factors despite their apparently benign medical history.

Top 100 Most Cited Neurologic and Neurosurgical Articles on COVID-19: A Bibliometric Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: With the exponential growth of literature on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we aimed to identify and characterize the 100 most cited COVID-19-related articles in neurology and neurosurgery. METHODS: In March 2021, we performed a title-specific search of the Scopus database using ("neurology" or "neurologic" or "neurosurgery" or "neurosurgical") and "COVID" as our search query term without date restrictions. The top 100 most cited English-language articles were obtained and reviewed. RESULTS: Our search yielded 9648 articles published from December 2019 to March 2021. Bibliometric analysis of the top 100 articles found that the most cited article had a citation count of 1741 and was the first to report on the detailed neurologic manifestations of the disease; Neurology had the most number of publications; the majority of the primary authors were neurologists, but 35% were from nonneuroscience specialties; the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, and Germany were the top contributors, with a combined total of 77%; most of the publications were correspondence or editorial articles; and most articles discussed the neurologic manifestations and complications of patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the top 100 most cited neurologic or neurosurgical COVID-19-related articles published to date. This list can be used to identify high-impact studies that will help health care practitioners in clinical decision making and researchers in navigating key areas of study and guiding future research.

The Value and Potential of Qualitative Research Methods in Neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value and potential of qualitative research to neurosurgery and provide insight and understanding to this underused methodology. METHODS: The definition of qualitative research is critically discussed and the heterogeneity within this field of inquiry explored. The value of qualitative research to the field of neurosurgery is articulated through its contribution to understanding complex clinical problems. DISCUSSION: To resolve some of the misunderstanding of qualitative research, this paper discusses research design choices. We explore approaches that use qualitative techniques but are not, necessarily, situated within a qualitative paradigm in addition to how qualitative research philosophy aids researchers to conduct interpretive inquiry that can reveal more than simply what was said by participants. Common research designs associated with qualitative inquiry are introduced, and how complex analysis may contribute more in-depth insights is explained. Approaches to quality are discussed briefly to support improvements in qualitative methods and qualitative manuscripts. Finally, we consider the future of qualitative research in neurosurgery, and suggest how to move forward in the qualitative neurosurgical evidence base. CONCLUSIONS: There is enormous potential for qualitative research to contribute to the advancement of person-centered care within neurosurgery. There are signs that more qualitative research is being conducted and that neurosurgical journals are increasingly open to this methodology. While studies that do not engage fully within the qualitative paradigm can make important contributions to the evidence base, due regard should be given to immersive inquiry within qualitative paradigms to allow complex, in-depth, investigations of the human experience.

Practice Patterns in Surgical Neuro-Oncology Among Low- and Middle-Income Countries During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Scoping Review and Situational Report from the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected the outcomes of surgical neuro-oncology patients worldwide. We aimed to review the practice patterns in surgical neuro-oncology in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We also present a situational report from our own country. METHODS: A scoping review was performed following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in the review. Most of the studies were from Asia (India, China, Iran, and Turkey), and 1 was from Brazil. Quantitative reports showed a decrease in the number of surgical neuro-oncology operations between pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 time frames, but similar proportions of neuro-oncology procedures. Qualitative review showed similar practice patterns between LMICs and high-income countries, except for limitations in resources such as negative-pressure operating rooms and intensive care units, and maintenance of face-to-face consults despite the adoption of telemedicine. Limited data on adjuvant therapy were available in LMICs. CONCLUSIONS: In our review, we found that the practice patterns in surgical neuro-oncology in LMICs during the COVID-19 pandemic are similar to those in high-income countries, except for a few modifications because of resource limitation and patient preferences.