Clinical Benefit of Bevacizumab and Irinotecan (BEV+IRI) in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Glioblastoma (r/rGBM) and its Potential Predictors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy constitutes an important salvage treatment for recurrent/refractory glioblastoma(r/rGBM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of r/rGBM patients treated with the combination of bevacizumab and irinotecan (BEV+IRI) as their salvage treatment from July 2013 and December 2021 in Konkuk Medical Center of Korea. Patients with available results from molecular diagnostic tests were eligible, and markers of interest were examined including the presence of MGMT methylation, IDH1/2 mutation, or 1p/19q co-deletion. Efficacy of BEV+IRI and its potential biomarker was explored. RESULTS: Among 21 patients, 38.1% demonstrated European Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance scale (ECOG-PS) ≥3. The majority (71.4%) received BEV+IRI as their second-line chemotherapies, and the median dose was 5 (range=1-25). Objective response rate (ORR) was 33.3% and disease-control rate (DCR) was 85.7%. Irrespective of objective response, early clinical response was achieved in 14(66.7%) patients. During the median follow-up of 16.4 months for survivors, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.6 and 6.8 months, respectively. ECOG PS≥3 and TP53 loss were independent predictors of an unfavorable OS, while prompt clinical improvement could predict favorable OS. Any molecular aberration was associated with OS or PFS in the study. CONCLUSION: Salvage BEV+IRI treatment in r/rGBM conferred comparable clinical benefit. ECOG PS ≥3, TP53 loss, and lack of prompt clinical improvement after the treatment were significantly associated with an unfavorable OS.

Time optimization of gadobutrol-enhanced brain MRI for metastases and primary tumors using a dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in rapid imaging techniques necessitate the reconsideration of the optimal imaging delay time for contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging delay time from the obtained time-signal intensity curve (TIC) using gadobutrol in patients with brain metastases, primary brain tumors, and meningiomas. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 78 patients with brain metastases (n = 39), primary brain tumors (n = 22), or meningiomas (n = 17) who underwent 7-min dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging with single-dose gadobutrol. Based on the time-to-peak (TTP) derived from the TIC, we selected four different time points for analysis. Lesion conspicuity, enhanced rate (ER) and contrast rate (CR) of 116 index lesions were evaluated. Statistical comparisons were made for the four different time points using the Friedman test. RESULTS: Maximum TTP (305.20 ± 63.47 s) was similar across all three groups (p = 0.342). Lesion conspicuity, CR and ER increased over time in all index lesions; however, no significant difference between the 5- and 7-min images was observed. The longest diameter in all groups differed significantly among time points (p < 0.001); the perpendicular diameter did not differ between the 5- and 7-min images. CONCLUSIONS: Maximum contrast enhancement and lesion conspicuity was achieved 5-7 min after a single gadobutrol injection for brain metastases detection and for primary brain tumor/meningioma evaluation. Acquiring images 5 min after gadobutrol injection is the optimal timing for brain tumor detection during MRI work-up.

Complications Following Burr Hole Craniostomy and Closed-System Drainage for Subdural Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Burr hole craniostomy and closed-system drainage (BCD) is a common surgical procedure in the field of neurosurgery. However, complications following BCD have seldom been reported. The purpose of this study was to report our experiences regarding complications following BCD for subdural lesions. METHODS: A retrospective study of all consecutive patients who underwent BCD for presumed subdural lesions at one institute since the opening of the hospital was performed. RESULTS: Of the 395 patients who underwent BCD for presumed subdural lesions, 117 experienced surgical or nonsurgical complications. Acute intracranial hemorrhagic complications developed in 14 patients (3.5%). Among these, 1 patient died and 5 patients had major morbidities. Malposition of the drainage catheter in the brain parenchyma occurred in 4 patients, and opposite-side surgery occurred in 2 patients. Newly developed seizures after BCD occurred in 8 patients (2.0%), five of whom developed the seizures in relation to new brain lesions. Eighty-eight patients (22.3%) suffered from nonsurgical complications after BCD. Pulmonary problems (7.3%) were the most common nonsurgical complications, followed by urinary problems (5.8%), psychologic problems (4.3%), and cognitive impairments (3.8%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of complications after BCD for subdural lesions is higher than previously believed. In particular, catastrophic complications such as acute intracranial hematomas and surgical or management errors occur at rates that cannot be ignored, possibly causing medico-legal problems. Great caution must be taken during surgery and the postoperative period, and these complications should be listed on the informed consent form before surgery.

Secondary Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in a Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia: Case Report.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a rare non-neoplastic bone lesion that involves mostly the long bones and vertebrae and may occur very rarely in the craniofacial bones. ABCs may occur as secondary bony pathologies in association with various benign and malignant bone tumors and with fibrous dysplasia (FD). FD is a common non-neoplastic bony pathology mostly affecting craniofacial bones. Secondary ABC occurring in craniofacial FD is extremely rare, with only approximately 20 cases reported in the literature to date. Here, we report on a case of secondary ABC in a 25-year-old woman who has had a craniofacial deformity for over 10 years and who presented to us with a rapidly growing painful pulsatile mass in the right frontal region that began over 2 months prior to admission. On thorough examination of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging brain scans taken at two-month interval, an aggressive, rapidly enlarging ABC, arising from the right frontal FD, was diagnosed. The patient underwent preoperative embolization followed by gross total resection of the ABC and cranioplasty. The 6-month follow up showed no recurrence of the ABC, nor was any progression of the FD noticed.

Outcomes After Transcranial and Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Tuberculum Meningiomas-A Retrospective Comparison.

BACKGROUND: Degree of resection and visual outcome are the main concerns in the surgical resection of tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM). In addition to the transcranial approach (TCA), the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has been used increasingly. However, the controversy regarding the optimal surgical approach is not clearly resolved. METHODS: We compared the surgical outcomes of each approach for TSMs from 44 patients receiving EEA and 40 patients receiving TCA in 2 institutions between 2004 and 2015. We analyzed the surgical outcomes and affecting factors for the relapse of tumor and visual outcome. RESULTS: Gross total resection rates and relapse-free survival were not different between the 2 groups; however, the locations of residual or recurred tumor definitely differed. All recurrences in the TCA group were in the sella turcica, whereas residual tumors in EEA group were mainly located at lateral or superior to the clinoid process. The complete or partial improvement rate of visual function in the EEA group was 97.7%, but 9 patients (23.7%) in the TCA group experienced visual deterioration after surgery. EEA and younger age (<55 years) were associated with favorable visual outcome. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in only one case in the EEA group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical approaches do not affect the gross total resection rates, but the locations of residual tumor or recurrence differ according to surgical approaches. EEA is superior to TCA in visual outcome. At least in pure TSMs, the trend seems to be shifting in favor of EEA, considering the huge difference in visual outcome.

Phase III randomized trial of autologous cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma in Korea.

PURPOSE: Adoptive cell immunotherapy involves an ex vivo expansion of autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells before their reinfusion into the host. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CIK cell immunotherapy with radiotherapy-temozolomide (TMZ) for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastomas. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this multi-center, open-label, phase 3 study, we randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma to receive CIK cell immunotherapy combined with standard TMZ chemoradiotherapy (CIK immunotherapy group) or standard TMZ chemoradiotherapy alone (control group). The efficacy endpoints were analyzed in the intention-to-treat set and in the per protocol set. RESULTS: Between December 2008 and October 2012, a total of 180 patients were randomly assigned to the CIK immunotherapy (n = 91) or control group (n = 89). In the intention-to-treat analysis set, median PFS was 8.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.8 to 8.5 months) in the CIK immunotherapy group, as compared to 5.4 months (95% CI, 3.3 to 7.9 months) in the control group (one-sided log-rank, p = 0.0401). Overall survival did not differ significantly between two groups. Grade 3 or higher adverse events, health-related quality of life and performance status between two groups did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of CIK cells immunotherapy to standard chemoradiotherapy with TMZ improved PFS. However, the CIK immunotherapy group did not show evidence of a beneficial effect on overall survival.

Palliative Resection of Metastatic Brain Tumors Previously Treated by Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approaches to brain metastases include surgery, whole-brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and combination therapy. Recently, postoperative or preoperative SRS draws more attention to reduce postoperative recurrence in brain metastases. The goal of this study is to review surgical outcome of patients who had been treated by SRS, and to discuss the effectiveness of preoperative SRS. METHODS: From 2009 to 2015, 174 patients were treated by SRS for brain metastases, and among these 50 patients underwent surgery. Eighteen patients underwent surgery after SRS, and 14 had oligometastases. The patients' median age at the time of surgery was 56 years (range, 34-84 years). The median follow-up duration was 16.5 months (range, 4-47 months). Pathological findings were classified as follows; radiation necrosis (Group I, n=3), mixed type (Group II, n=2), and tumor-dominant group (Group III, n=9). We compared surgical outcome in respect of steroid, mannitol dosage, Karnofsky performance scale, and pathological subgroups. RESULTS: The median overall survival was 11 months (range, 2-40 months). Six, 12 and 24 months survival rate was 64.3, 42.9, and 28.6%, respectively. Improvement of Karnofsky performance score was achieved in 50% after surgery. The overall survival of Group I (26.6 months) was longer than the other groups (11.5 months). Additionally the patients were able to be weaned from medications, such as steroid administration after surgery was reduced in 10 cases, and mannitol dosage was reduced in 6 cases. Time interval within 3 months between SRS and surgery seemed to be related with better local control. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection after radiologically and symptomatically progressed brain metastases previously treated with SRS seems to be effective in rapid symptom relief and provides an improvement in the quality of life. A short time interval between SRS and surgical resection seems to be associated with good local tumor control.

Metastatic Intracranial Hemangiopericytoma to the Spinal Column: A Case Report.

Intracranial hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare brain tumor with aggressive biologic behavior associated with high recurrence rate and often with extracranial metastasis. The most common sites of extracranial metastasis of the intracranial HPC are the long bones, lung, liver and abdominal cavity in the order of frequencies. Extracranial metastases usually occur long after the initial diagnosis of the primary tumor. Metastatic intracranial HPC to the vertebra has been rarely reported. We present a case of intracranial HPC metastasized to the L2 vertebral body 13 years after multiple surgical resections and radiotherapy of the primary intracranial HPC.

Serial Mini-Mental Status Examination to Evaluate Cognitive Outcome in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at finding out the changes in cognitive dysfunction in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and investigating the factors limiting their cognitive improvement. METHODS: Between January 2010 and March 2014, 33 patients with TBI participated in serial mini-mental status examination (MMSE). Their cognitive functions were statistically analyzed to clarify their relationship with different TBI status. Patients who developed hydrocephalus were separately analyzed in regards to their cognitive function depending on the placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). RESULTS: Bi-frontal lobe injury (ß=-10.441, p<0.001), contre-coup injury (ß=-6.592, p=0.007), severe parenchymal injury (ß=-7.210, p=0.012), temporal lobe injury (ß=-5.524, p=0.027), and dominant hemisphere injury (ß=-5.388, p=0.037) significantly lowered the final MMSE scores. The risk of down-grade in the prognosis was higher in severe parenchymal injury [odds ratio (OR)=13.41, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.31-136.78], temporal lobe injury (OR=12.3, 95% CI=2.07-73.08), dominant hemisphere injury (OR=8.19, 95% CI=1.43-46.78), and bi-frontal lobe injury (OR=7.52, 95% CI=1.31-43.11). In the 11 post-traumatic hydrocephalus patients who underwent VPS, the final MMSE scores (17.7±6.8) substantially increased from the initial MMSE scores (11.2±8.6). CONCLUSION: Presence of bi-frontal lobe injury, temporal lobe injury, dominant hemisphere injury, and contre-coup injury and severe parenchymal injury adversely influenced the final MMSE scores. They can be concluded to be poor prognostic factors in terms of cognitive function in TBI patients. Development of hydrocephalus aggravates cognitive impairment with unpredictable time of onset. Thus, close observation and routine image follow-up are mandatory for early detection and surgical intervention for hydrocephalus.

Clinical characteristics of cerebral venous thrombosis in a single center in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in a single center in Korea. METHODS: A total of 36 patients were diagnosed with CVT from August 2005 to May 2013. The patient data regarding age, sex, disease stage, pathogenesis, location, laboratory findings, radiological findings, and treatment modalities were retrospectively collected. The results were compared with those of previous studies in other countries. RESULTS: The patient group comprised 21 men and 15 women with a mean age of 46.9 years (ranging from three months to 77 years). The most common cause was a prothrombotic condition (8 patients, 22.2%). Within the patient group, 13 patients (36.1%) had a hemorrhagic infarction, whereas 23 (63.9%) had a venous infarction without hemorrhage. By location, the incidence of hemorrhagic infarction was the highest in the group with a transverse and/or sigmoid sinus thrombosis (n=9); however, the proportion of hemorrhagic infarction was higher in the cortical venous thrombosis group (75%) and the deep venous thrombosis group (100%). By pathogenesis, the incidence of hemorrhagic infarction was the highest in the prothrombotic group (n=6), which was statistically significant (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: According to this study, CVT was more prevalent in men, and the peak age group comprised patients in the sixth decade. The most common cause was a prothrombotic condition. This finding was comparable with reports from Europe or America, in which CVT was more common in younger women. Hemorrhagic infarction was more common in the prothrombotic group (p=0.016) than in the non-prothrombotic group in this study.

The clinico-oncologic outcomes of elderly patients with glioblastoma after surgical resection followed by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: There have been controversies in the treatment of elderly patients with glioblastoma. We introduce the outcome of the treatment of elderly patients with glioblastoma comparing with younger patients. METHODS: The author's hospital database was used to identify patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma after surgery between January 2006 and December 2013. Forty-eight patients (control group) were under age 65 and 16 patients (elderly group) were aged 65 years or over at the time of surgery. RESULTS: The median age of the elderly group was 71 years and control group was 50 years. Mean number of medical comorbidities was 1.8 in the elderly group vs. 0.5 in the control group. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 5.6 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 19.9 months in all patients. The elderly group had a median PFS of 4.2 months vs. 8 months for the control group (log-rank test, p=0.762). Median OS was 8.2 months in the elderly group vs. 20.9 months in the control group (log-rank test, p=0.457). Major complications occurred in 5 cases (7.8%) for all patients. The ratio of completion of concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) was 81.3% and was the same between the two groups. In multivariable analysis, extent of resection (p=0.034) and completion of CCRT (p=0.023) were statistically significant, independent prognostic factors only for PFS in all patients by Cox proportional hazards model. Age was not an independent prognostic factor. As for OS, there was no significant factor. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection and CCRT were well tolerated in elderly patients with glioblastoma, and maximal safe resection followed by timely CCRT could improve clinic-oncologic outcomes.

Metachronous schwannoma in the colon with vestibular schwannoma.

We experienced a case of vestibular schwannoma and metachronous schwannoma in the colon. A 59-year-old female presented with a 1-month history of hematochezia. She had undergone suboccipital craniectomy resulting in radical subtotal resection, followed by gamma knife radiosurgery for a large left vestibular schwannoma 4 years prior to admission. On preoperative colonoscopy, a huge mass through which the colonoscope could not be passed was detected. CT scans showed colo-colonic intussusception with a 4.8-cm-sized mass in the descending colon. PET/CT revealed hypermetabolism of the descending colon tumor and pericolic lymph nodes. We performed left hemicolectomy under the preoperative impression of colon cancer with intussusception. A pathological diagnosis of benign schwannoma of the colon was made in this patient.

Pilot study of gamma-knife surgery-incorporated systemic chemotherapy omitting whole brain radiotherapy for the treatment of elderly primary central nervous system lymphoma patients with poor prognostic scores.

Systemic chemotherapy followed by whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is a widely used treatment strategy for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). However, the outcome of this treatment strategy in elderly patients, particularly with a poor prognostic score, was disappointing compared with younger patients, and the deterioration of cognitive function after WBRT is more problematic in these patients. To avoid this debilitating complication of WBRT and increase treatment efficacy in elderly patients, we designed systemic chemotherapy that incorporated interim gamma-knife surgery (GKS) treatment for elderly PCNSL patients (age≥65 years), omitting WBRT in this pilot trial. A total of four elderly patients with a poor prognostic score based on an International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group were enrolled in this pilot clinical trial. All study patients acquired complete response and showed stable or improved neuropsychological function during the disease-free state. The median progression-free survival was 9.5 months (range 8.6-22.5 months), and the median overall survival was 15.8 months (range 13.3-25.1 months), which were likely to be similar to those of the chemotherapy followed by WBRT for those patients. This pilot study demonstrated that GKS-incorporated systemic chemotherapy can obtain complete response with high probability and considerably long survival, which suggests that this treatment strategy is efficient and neuropsychologically safe for elderly PCNSL patients with a poor prognostic score.

Galeal tack-up sutures to prevent subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid collection.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is considered as one of the common minor surgical complication which can lead to prolonged hospitalization. We introduce "galeal tack-up suture" to prevent postoperative subgaleal CSF collection. METHODS: Galeal tack-up suture consists of various surgical techniques which aim to fix galea to cranium in order to prevent CSF pooling in subgaleal space. A total of 87 patients who underwent craniotomy were divided into two groups while closing the wound : group A with galeal tack-up suture and group B with routine wound closure without galeal tack-up suture. The patients were observed for postoperative subgaleal CSF collection. RESULTS: Among 87 cranitomy cases, galeal tack-up suture was performed in 32 cases and routine wound closure was done in 55 cases. Postoperative subgaleal CSF collection occurred in 13 cases (15%) in which 12 cases occurred in group B patients and 1 case occurred in group A patients (p=0.026). CONCLUSION: Galeal tack-up suture is an easy and effective technique in wound closure to prevent postoperative CSF collection.

Tiny aneurysms treated with single coil: morphological comparison between bare platinum coil and matrix coil.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the angiographic results of tiny aneurysms treated with various kinds of single coils including polyglycolic-polylactic acid (PGLA)-coated coils. METHODS: Forty aneurysms with diameters measuring less than 4mm were treated with a single bare platinum, Matrix1, or Matrix2 coil. Most of the aneurysms were treated with a 2 mm diameter coil, except for seven treated with a 3 mm coil, four treated with a 2.5 mm coil, and two treated with a 1.5 mm coil. The mean length of the coils was 3.6 cm. RESULTS: With mean packing ratios of 21.2%, 19.7%, and 22.8%, we achieved initial complete occlusion rates of 9.5% with the platinum coil, 28.6% with the Matrix1 coil, and 25.0% with the Matrix2 coil. The mean follow-up interval was 23.1 months and the complete occlusion rate improved up to 47.6% for the platinum coil, 57.1% for the Matrix1 coil, and 83.3%for the Matrix2 coil. Compared to the Platinum group, the Matrix2 group showed a greater tendency toward more complete occlusion on the follow-up images. Regardless of coil type, the aneurysms treated with a stent-assisted technique showed better complete occlusion rates (50.0% vs. 90.0%, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The tiny aneurysms treated with a single Matrix2 coil tended to have better follow-up angiographic results than the aneurysms treated with a single platinum coil. Furthermore, the use of a stent-assisted technique and increasing the packing density also positively affected the healing of these tiny aneurysms.

Endovascular management of great vessel injury following lumbar microdiscectomy.

Great vessel injury is a rare but well-known complication of lumbar disc surgery, which may result in acute or fatal outcomes of delayed diagnosis. Thus, early detection and proper management is vital. The authors report a case of retroperitoneal hemorrhage with arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm after lumbar microdiscectomy. The patient was successfully managed by endovascular intervention using a stent graft. Endovascular repair is a minimally invasive and efficient treatment modality with considerably low morbidity and mortality.

Primary intracranial fibrosarcoma presenting with hemorrhage.

Primary intracranial fibrosarcomas (PIFs) are extremely rare and the origin of these tumors is still controversial. The rarity of primary intracranial fibrosarcomas makes it difficult to diagnose them correctly and establish a standard treatment. The pathologic diagnosis is made by distinguishing findings from light microscopic and immunohistochemistry analysis. PIFs have been known to be very aggressive neoplasms. The extra-axial location of the tumor could provide an opportunity to perform a total resection even if it does not mean a cure. We present a case of PIFs mimicking a falx meningioma in a 17-year-old man.

Extremely delayed brain metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.

Brain metastasis occurs in 3.9-24% of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with an average interval from nephrectomy to brain metastasis of 1 to 3 years. A few cases have been reported where brain metastasis occurred after a delay of more than 10 years from the initial onset of renal cell carcinoma. This long interval for central nervous system metastasis from the primary cancer has been recognized as an indicator of better prognosis. Histopathological confirmation and aggressive treatment must be considered in these delayed brain metastases cases, since the patients usually show long survival and good prognosis. We present a case of a 76-year-old woman who developed extremely late multiple brain metastases 18 years after a nephrectomy for RCC.

Grading of intracerebral hemorrhage in ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To propose grading of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms, which helps to predict the prognosis more accurately. METHODS: From August 2005 to December 2010, 27 cases of emergent hematoma evacuation and aneurysm clipping for MCA aneurysms were done in the author's clinic. Three variables were considered in grading the ICH, which were 1) hematoma volume, 2) diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) that extends to the contralateral sylvian cistern, and 3) the presence of midline shifting from computed tomography findings. For hematoma volume of greater than 25 mL, we assigned 2 points whereas 1 point for less than 25 cc. We also assigned 1 point for the presence of diffuse SAH whereas 0 point for the absence of it. Then, 1 point was assigned for midline shifting of greater than 5 mm whereas 0 point for less than 5 mm. RESULTS: According to the grading system, the numbers of patients from grade 1 to 4 were 4, 6, 8 and 9 respectively and 5, 7, 8, 4 and 3 patients belonged to Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 5 to 1 respectively. It was found that the patients with higher GOS had lower ICH grade which were confirmed to be statistically significant (p<0.01). Preoperative Hunt and Hess grade and absence of midline shifting were the factors to predict favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The ICH grading system composed of above three variables was helpful in predicting the patient's outcome more accurately.

Clinical features and pathological characteristics of amygdala enlargement in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Although the hippocampus is considered an important site of seizures in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), the amygdala may also have a significant role. Amygdala enlargement is occasionally found in patients with mTLE, and volumetric detection of amygdala enlargement has been documented in "image-negative" patients with TLE. However, only limited data have been reported on the clinical features, surgical outcomes, and pathological characteristics in patients with mTLE with amygdala enlargement. We recruited 12 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for refractory epilepsy with radiological evidence of amygdala enlargement, and 11 became seizure free. All patients showed homogenously increased amygdala volumes on MRI without enhancement and underwent surgical treatment for mTLE. Pathology results revealed that eight patients had focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), two had ganglioglioma, one had oligodendroglioma, and one had astrocytoma. The clinical features and MRI findings were largely indistinguishable between the patients with brain tumors and those with FCD, but the patients with brain tumors tended to be younger at the time of seizure onset. Our study shows that surgical treatment of epilepsy in patients with amygdala enlargement usually has a favorable outcome. FCD was the most frequent pathological diagnosis in these patients. However, a brain tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in young patients, because it is often difficult to differentiate FCD from a brain tumor on radiological features.