A Multidisciplinary Skull Base Board for Tumour and Non-Tumour Diseases: Initial Experiences.

The skull base is the area where various cancerous and non-cancerous diseases occur and represents the intersection of several medical fields. The key is an integrated treatment by specialists of multiple disciplines. We prospectively analysed patients with a skull base disease between August 2022 and 2023 and presented to the Multidisciplinary Skull Base Board (MDT-SB), which takes place once a month hybridly (in-person and remotely). Thirty-nine patients (median age of 58.2 years) were included, of which twelve (30.8%) had a benign tumour, twelve (30.8%) had a malignant tumour, five had an infection (12.8%), and ten (25.6%) had other diseases. For each patient, at least two otorhinolaryngologists, a neurosurgeon, and a neuroradiologist, as well as an infectious disease specialist, a paediatrician, an oculoplastic surgeon, a maxillofacial surgeon, and a pathologist were involved in 10%, 8%, 8%, 3%, and 3% of cases, respectively. In fifteen patients (38%), the MDT-SB suggested surgical treatment; in fourteen (36%), radiological follow-ups; in five (13%), non-surgical treatments; in two, conservative treatments (5%); in two (5%), surgical and conservative treatments; and in one (3%), a biopsy. Non-cancerous and cancerous diseases of the skull base in adults and children should be presented to the MDT-SB, which consists of at least an otolaryngologist, a neurosurgeon, and a neuroradiologist.

Beyond aphasia: Altered EEG connectivity in Broca's patients during working memory task.

Broca's region and adjacent cortex presumably take part in working memory (WM) processes. Electrophysiologically, these processes are reflected in synchronized oscillations. We present the first study exploring the effects of a stroke causing Broca's aphasia on these processes and specifically on synchronized functional WM networks. We used high-density EEG and coherence analysis to map WM networks in ten Broca's patients and ten healthy controls during verbal WM task. Our results demonstrate that a stroke resulting in Broca's aphasia also alters two distinct WM networks. These theta and gamma functional networks likely reflect the executive and the phonological processes, respectively. The striking imbalance between task-related theta synchronization and desynchronization in Broca's patients might represent a disrupted balance between task-positive and WM-irrelevant functional networks. There is complete disintegration of left fronto-centroparietal gamma network in Broca's patients, which could reflect the damaged phonological loop.

Central nervous system granulomastous phlebitis with limited extracranial involvement of the heart and lungs: An autopsy case.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare condition, usually with an insidious onset. There is a wide variety of histological types (granulomatous, lymphocytic or necrotizing vasculitis) and types of vessel involved (arteries, veins or both). Most cases are idiopathic. We describe a first case of idiopathic granulomatous central nervous system phlebitis with additional limited involvement of the heart and lung, exclusively affecting small and medium sized veins in a 22-year-old woman, presenting as a sub acute headache. The reasons for this peculiar limitation of inflammation to the veins and the involvement of the heart and lungs are unknown.

MR perfusion and diffusion imaging in the follow-up of recurrent glioblastoma treated with dendritic cell immunotherapy: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the potential value of MR-PWI and MR-DWI to differentiate immune therapy-induced inflammatory response from recurrent glioblastoma tumour growth. Both can present as contrast-enhancing lesions on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Patients with recurrent glioblastoma who could obtain a total or near-total resection were treated with dendritic cell immune therapy according to the HGG-IMMUNO-2003 trial. A retrospective analysis of 32 follow-up MRI examinations (mean follow-up time 21 months) in eight patients was performed for this pilot study. For the statistical analysis, the 32 examinations were divided into three groups: 0-obtained in patients that remained stable during the follow-up period, 1a-obtained in progressive-tumour patients at time points before definite progression and 1b-obtained in patients at or after progression. RESULTS: Maximum lesional rCBV ratios were highest in group 1b (Student t test, 9.25 ± 2.68; p < 0.001) and were higher in group 1a (4.87 ± 1.61, p < 0.001) compared to group 0 (1.22 ± 0.47). The minimum apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in the contrast-enhancing regions were lower in group 1a (0.62 ± 0.06 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) than in group 0 (1.03 ± 0.43 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, p = 0.01) and higher in group 1b (0.76 ± 0.08) compared to 1a (p = 0.02). The minimum ADCs in the FLAIR-hyperintense region were lower in group 1a (0.62 ± 0.06, p = 0.02) compared to group 0 (0.76 ± 0.16) but not significantly different in group 1b (0.68 ± 0.07) from groups 0 and 1a (p = 0.33, p = 0.10). The mean ADCs of the FLAIR-hyperintense region and the mean ADCs of the contrast-enhancing lesion were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The maximum lesional rCBV ratios and minimum ADC values in the contrast-enhancing area are potential radiological markers to differentiate between immune therapy-induced inflammatory response and recurrent glioblastoma tumour growth in glioblastoma patients treated with immune therapy.