Approaching glioblastoma during COVID-19 pandemic: current recommendations and considerations in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients in general and glioblastoma patients, in particular, have an increased risk of developing complications from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and reaching a balance between the risk of exposure to infection and the clinical benefit of their treatment is ideal. The aggressive behavior of this group of tumors justifies the need for a multidisciplinary team to assist in clinical decisions during the current pandemic. Brazil is now ranked #2 in the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 pandemic, and existing disparities in the treatment of neuro-oncology patients in Brazil will challenge the clinical and surgical decisions of this population, possibly affecting global survival. OBJECTIVE: To search the literature about the management of glioblastomas during COVID-19 pandemic to guide surgical and clinical decisions in this population of patients in Brazil. METHODS: We performed a systematic search on the PubMed electronic database targeting consensus statements concerning glioblastoma approaches during COVID-19 pandemic up to July 18, 2020. RESULTS: When approaching glioblastoma during the COVID-19 pandemic, important parameters that help in the decision-making process are age, performance status, tumor molecular profile, and patient consent. Younger patients should follow the standard protocol after maximal safe resection, mainly those with MGMT methylated tumors. Aged and underperforming patients should be carefully evaluated, and probably a monotherapy scheme is to be considered. Centers are advised to engage in telemedicine and to elaborate means to reduce local infection. CONCLUSION: Approaching glioblastoma during the COVID-19 pandemic will be challenging worldwide, but particularly in Brazil, where a significant inequality of healthcare exists.

Intravenous grafts of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells reduce behavioral deficits in experimental ischemic stroke

Amniotic fluid has been investigated as new cell source for stem cells in the development of future cell-based transplantation. This study reports isolation of viable human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells, labeled with multimodal iron oxide nanoparticles, and its effect on focal cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury in Wistar rats. Middle cerebral artery occlusion of 60 min followed by reperfusion for 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h was employed in the present study to produce ischemia and reperfusion-induced cerebral injury in rats. Tests were employed to assess the functional outcome of the sensorimotor center activity in the brain, through a set of modified neurological severity scores used to assess motor and exploratory capacity 24 h, 14, and 28 days after receiving cellular therapy via tail vein. In our animal model of stroke, transplanted cells migrated to the ischemic focus, infarct volume decreased, and motor deficits improved. Therefore, we concluded that these cells appear to have beneficial effects on the ischemic brain, possibly based on their ability to enhance endogenous repair mechanisms.

Intravenous grafts of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells reduce behavioral deficits in experimental ischemic stroke

Amniotic fluid has been investigated as new cell source for stem cells in the development of future cell-based transplantation. This study reports isolation of viable human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells, labeled with multimodal iron oxide nanoparticles, and its effect on focal cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury in Wistar rats. Middle cerebral artery occlusion of 60 min followed by reperfusion for 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h was employed in the present study to produce ischemia and reperfusion-induced cerebral injury in rats. Tests were employed to assess the functional outcome of the sensorimotor center activity in the brain, through a set of modified neurological severity scores used to assess motor and exploratory capacity 24 h, 14, and 28 days after receiving cellular therapy via tail vein. In our animal model of stroke, transplanted cells migrated to the ischemic focus, infarct volume decreased, and motor deficits improved. Therefore, we concluded that these cells appear to have beneficial effects on the ischemic brain, possibly based on their ability to enhance endogenous repair mechanisms.

Supra-orbital keyhole removal of anterior fossa and parasellar meningiomas.

The improvement of surgical techniques as well as the introduction of new surgical instruments promoted the use of keyhole craniotomies in neurosurgery. We evaluated the technical aspects of the supra-orbital keyhole approach considering the indications, limitations, and complications of this approach to treat anterior cranial fossa and parasellar meningiomas. Twenty-four patients (21 females; mean age, 53 + or - 8.6 years) operated on between 2002 and 2006 through a supra-orbital eyebrow approach were studied. Maximal tumor diameter ranged from 1.6 to 6 cm. Gross total resection was done in 20 (83.3%). All tumors were histologically benign. Two patients (8%) experienced CSF rinorhea and another two patients suffered transitory diabetes insipidus (8%). One patient experienced transitory hemiparesis. There was one case of meningitis and one mortality. Follow-up ranged between 6 to 66 months (mean 31.5 + or - 20.1 months), with no recurrence. The supra-orbital keyhole craniotomy is a useful minimally invasive approach to treat selected anterior fossa and parasellar meningiomas.

Supra-orbital keyhole removal of anterior fossa and parasellar meningiomas / Minicraniotomia supra-orbitária superciliar no tratamento de meningiomas na fossa craniana anterior e para-selares

The improvement of surgical techniques as well as the introduction of new surgical instruments promoted the use of keyhole craniotomies in neurosurgery. We evaluated the technical aspects of the supra-orbital keyhole approach considering the indications, limitations, and complications of this approach to treat anterior cranial fossa and parasellar meningiomas. Twenty-four patients (21 females; mean age, 53±8.6 years) operated on between 2002 and 2006 through a supra-orbital eyebrow approach were studied. Maximal tumor diameter ranged from 1.6 to 6 cm. Gross total resection was done in 20 (83.3 percent). All tumors were histologically benign. Two patients (8 percent) experienced CSF rinorhea and another two patients suffered transitory diabetes insipidus (8 percent). One patient experienced transitory hemiparesis. There was one case of meningitis and one mortality. Follow-up ranged between 6 to 66 months (mean 31.5±20.1 months), with no recurrence. The supra-orbital keyhole craniotomy is a useful minimally invasive approach to treat selected anterior fossa and parasellar meningiomas.

A evolução técnica e a introdução de instrumentais cirúrgicos mais delicados proporcionaram o uso de craniotomias menores no tratamento de patologias intracranianas. Avaliamos os aspectos técnicos da minicraniotomia supra-orbitária superciliar, considerando as indicações, limitações e complicações no tratamento de meningiomas na fossa craniana anterior e para-selares. Vinte e quarto pacientes (21 mulheres; idade média, 53±8,6 anos) operados entre 2002 e 2006 foram estudados. O diâmetro tumoral máximo variou de 1,6 a 6 cm. Ressecção total foi obtida em 20 (83,3 por cento). Todos os tumores eram histologicamente benignos. Dois pacientes (8 por cento) apresentaram fistula liquórica pós-operatória e outros dois diabetes insipido transitórioa (8 por cento). Um paciente evoluiu com hemiparesia transitória. Houve um caso de meningite e um de evolução fatal. O seguimento variou de 6 a 66 meses (média 31,5±20,1 meses), não houve recidiva. A minicraniotomia supra-orbitária superciliar é uma via de abordagem eficaz para o tratamento de meningiomas da fossa craniana anterior e para-selares selecionados.

Meningiomas anteriores e antero-laterais do forame magno / Anterior and lateral foramen magnum meningiomas

Relatamos nossa experiência com 11 pacientes portadores de meningiomas do forame magno, oito cranioespinhais e três espinocraniais. A média de idade foi 50,8 anos, o sintoma mais comum foi cefaléia occipital com duração média de 18,6 meses. Os principais achados neurológicos foram tetraparesia e comprometimento dos nervos cranianos baixos. O tratamento foi cirúrgico, sempre com exposição da artéria vertebral em sua entrada na dura-máter da fossa posterior e ressecção de parte do côndilo occipital apenas em três casos. Ressecção total foi possível em sete pacientes e parcial nos demais, devido às aderências a vasos e nervos. O prognóstico esteve relacionado com as condições neurológicas pré-operatórias.

Aggressive intracranial fibromatosis: case report

Fibromatose é lesão fibroblástica proliferativa com agressividade localizada, afetando as estruturas músculo-aponeuróticas e acometendo, mais freqüentemente, os membros e tronco. A fibromatose intracraniana é rara e requer tratamento agressivo para evitar recidiva. Descrevemos uma paciente de 20 anos portadora de fibromatose agressiva de base de crânio. A lesão se estendia através da cavidade nasal, seios esfenoidal e etmoidal, destruindo o teto da órbita direita e invadindo a porção anterior da base do crânio. A paciente foi submetida a uma via craniofacial anterior combinada, não sendo possível uma ressecção completa devido ao envolvimento de estruturas neurovasculares. A ressecção completa é, freqüentemente, impossível devido sua natureza infiltrativa. Radioterapia e quimioterapia são indicadas para melhorar o controle da lesão.

Aneurisma intracraniano gigante em menino de três anos: relato de caso / Giant intracranial aneurysm in three years old boy: case report

Aneurismas cerebrais são raros na faixa etária pediátrica. A apresentação destas lesões difere significativamente em relação á população adulta no que se refere a tamanho, localização e incidência. Relatamos caso de menimo de três anos de idade que apresentou quadro de hemorragia subaracnóidea sem história de infecções ou traumatismos prévios sendo, posteriormente, diagnosticado aneurisma gigante localizado na artéria cerebral média. Foi submetido a tratamento cirúrgico com boa evolução pós-operatória.

[Size and proliferative index correlation in acoustic neuromas]. / Associação entre tamanho e potencial proliferativo em neurinomas do acústico.

Acoustic neuromas are the most common tumors in the cerebellopontine angle. The molecular mechanisms involved in generation and growth of these tumors are not completely elucidated. Many radiological, clinic and immunohistochemistry data were correlated to tumor growth. We studied 11 acoustic neuromas surgically treated at Hospital São Paulo/Unifesp and correlated clinical and radiological data with proliferative index (Ki-67). The size of the tumors were positively correlationated with proliferative index. No other correlation had statistic significativity.

[Olfactory groove meningioma: correlation between clinicoradiological features and proliferative index (Mib-1)]. / Meningeoma de goteira olfatória: relação entre achados clínico-radiológicos e índice proliferativo (Mib-1).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to correlationate demographic, radiologic features and proliferative index defined by immunohistochemical expression of Mib-1 in olfactory groove meningiomas, and to observe possible predictive factors of recurrence of this tumor. METHOD: There were analysed demographic, clinical and radiological features of 15 patients with olfactory groove meningioma. Fifteen paraffin-embebed tumors were studied by immunohistochemical methods for the expression of proliferative index by the Mib-1. RESULTS: There was a statistically positive correlation between tumoral and edema volumes. There was no correlation between Mib-1, tumoral volume, tumoral edema and frontal skull base abnormalities. Two cases with tumor recurrence had proliferative indices higher than the mean index. CONCLUSION: Larger tumors were more susceptible to develop peritumoral edema. The proliferative índex has no positive correlation with tumoral volume, edema volumes and skull base invasion, but probably it is associated with tumoral recurrence.

[Olfactory groove meningioma]. / Meningeoma da goteira olfatória.

Olfactory groove meningiomas compromise approximately 8-18% of intracranial meningiomas and harbor frequently large sizes when diagnosticated. We report 13 consecutive cases operated on Hospital São Paulo and Hospital Professor Edmundo Vasconcelos between 1995 and 2003. These patients were retrospectively studied regarding clinical preservation, surgical results and complications. The patients underwent uni or bifrontal craniotomies. There were nine complete resections including duramater and infiltrate bone and four patients with tumor removal and duramater coagulation. One patient died on post-operative period due to brain infarction and three patients had cerebrospinal fluid fistula that resolved. There were no symptomatic recurrence on the follow-up period of 3.3 years(range 11 m to 8 years). With current microsurgical techniques, these tumors can be resected safely with low morbidity.

Associação entre tamanho e potencial proliferativo em neurinomas do acústico / Size and proliferative index correlation in acoustic neuromas

Schwanomas do acústico são os tumores mais freqüentes localizados no ângulo pontocerebelar. Os mecanismos moleculares que levam a sua geração e crescimento ainda não são bem conhecidos. Várias características clínicas, radiológicas e imuno-histoquímicas já foram estudadas e correlacionadas ao crescimento tumoral. Estudamos e correlacionamos aspectos clínicos e imuno-histoquímicos (MIB-1) de 11 schwanomas do acústico operados no Hospital São Paulo/UNIFESP. O tamanho dos tumores correlacionou-se com o índice proliferativo (Ki-67), não havendo correlação com significância estatística entre a idade dos pacientes, duração dos sintomas e índice proliferativo.

Meningeoma de goteira olfatória: relação entre achados clínico-radiológicos e índice proliferativo (Mib-1) / Olfactory groove meningioma: correlation between clinicoradiological features and proliferative index (Mib-1)

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é correlacionar achados clínicos, radiológicos e índice proliferativo em meningeomas da goteira olfatória e analisar possíveis fatores preditivos de recidiva tumoral. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 15 pacientes portadores de meningeoma de goteira olfatória. O exame imuno-histoquímico foi realizado através do índice proliferativo calculado a partir da expressão do MIB-1. RESULTADOS: Houve relação estatisticamente significativa entre volume tumoral e edema. Não houve relação significativa entre índice proliferativo, volume tumoral, edema, idade do paciente e alterações da base do crânio. Dois pacientes que apresentaram recidiva tumoral possuíam índice proliferativo maior que a média. CONCLUSÃO: Tumores maiores são mais susceptíveis ao desenvolvimento de edema cerebral. O índice proliferativo provavelmente está associado a recidiva tumoral, principalmente em pacientes com hiperostose e ressecções cirúrgicas parciais.

Meningeoma da goteira olfatória / Olfactory groove meningioma

Meningeomas da goteira olfatória representam 8-18 por cento dos meningeomas intracranianos e geralmente são diagnosticados quando alcançam grande tamanho. Relatamos uma série de 13 casos consecutivos de meningeomas de goteira olfativa operados nos Hospitais São Paulo (UNIFESP) e Professor Edmundo Vasconcelos no período de 1995 a 2003, estudados retrospectivamente quanto ao quadro clínico, resultados cirúrgicos e complicações. Os pacientes foram submetidos a ressecção cirúrgica destes tumores pela via subfrontal, em 9 casos a ressecção foi completa incluindo dura-máter e osso infiltrado por tumor e em 4 a dura-máter foi somente coagulada. Um paciente morreu devido a infarto cerebral e três pacientes evoluíram com fístulas liquóricas. Não houve recorrência sintomática no período que variou de 11 meses a 8 anos. Com as técnicas microcirúrgicas atuais, estes tumores podem ser removidos com baixa morbidade.

Schwanoma do ramo mandibular do nervo trigêmeo: relato de caso / Mandibular trigeminal schwannoma: case report

Relatamos um caso de schwanoma do ramo mandibular do nervo trigêmeo, localizado na fossa infratemporal e ptérigo-palatina, com pequena extensäo intracraniana e que foi totalmente extirpado por via transmaxilar. A revisäo da literatura mostrou tratar-se de tumor raro nesta localizaçäo