Radioterapia estreotáxica corporal y cirugía mínimamente invasiva en el manejo de las metástasis espinales: un cambio de paradigma / Stereotactic body radiation therapy and minimally invasive surgery in the management of spinal metastases: a change in the paradigm

El objetivo principal del tratamiento en las metástasis espinales es el control local de la enfermedad, el alivio del dolor y el mantenimiento de la deambulación. Clásicamente, se ha recomendado una resección quirúrgica del tumor lo más amplia posible seguida de radioterapia o quimioterapia adyuvante. En la actualidad, la radioterapia estereotáxica corporal (SBRT) en dosis única o hipofraccionada proporciona tasas globales de control local al año superiores al 95% con mínima morbilidad, incluso en histologías que suelen considerarse radiorresistentes. Por otro lado, mediante cirugía de descompresión circunferencial posterolateral y estabilización de la columna es factible crear un espacio de 2-3 mm entre el borde tumoral y la duramadre (separation surgery) suficiente para permitir administrar de forma segura SBRT a dosis ablativas. Dado que con frecuencia se trata de pacientes frágiles, dicha cirugía puede realizarse mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas, que reducen la agresividad quirúrgica y ayudan a minimizar el retraso de eventuales tratamientos sistémicos

The main goal of treatment in spinal metastatic patients is local control of the disease, pain relief and the maintenance of ambulation. Traditionally, wide surgical resection of the tumour followed by adjuvant radiation and/or chemotherapy has been recommended. Currently, single-fraction or hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) yields a one-year local control rate of over 95% with minimum morbidity, even for tumours previously considered radioresistant. In addition, by posterolateral and circumferential decompression and stabilisation of the spinal cord, it is feasible to create a 2 to 3 mm epidural margin between the dura mater and the tumour (separation surgery), enough to deliver safe and ablative doses of SBRT to the vertebrae. As these patients tend to be frail, such interventions should ideally be minimally invasive, thereby reducing surgical aggressiveness and helping to minimise the delay of any systemic therapies

Stereotactic body radiation therapy and minimally invasive surgery in the management of spinal metastases: a change in the paradigm. / Radioterapia estreotáxica corporal y cirugía mínimamente invasiva en el manejo de las metástasis espinales: un cambio de paradigma.

The main goal of treatment in spinal metastatic patients is local control of the disease, pain relief and the maintenance of ambulation. Traditionally, wide surgical resection of the tumour followed by adjuvant radiation and/or chemotherapy has been recommended. Currently, single-fraction or hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) yields a one-year local control rate of over 95% with minimum morbidity, even for tumours previously considered radioresistant. In addition, by posterolateral and circumferential decompression and stabilisation of the spinal cord, it is feasible to create a 2 to 3 mm epidural margin between the dura mater and the tumour (separation surgery), enough to deliver safe and ablative doses of SBRT to the vertebrae. As these patients tend to be frail, such interventions should ideally be minimally invasive, thereby reducing surgical aggressiveness and helping to minimise the delay of any systemic therapies.

Medidas de protección radiológica: implicaciones en el diseño de quirófanos de neurocirugía / Radiation protection measures: Implications on the design of neurosurgery operating rooms

Objetivo: Describir pros y contras de diversas medidas de protección radiológica y sus implicaciones en el diseño de un quirófano de neurocirugía. Material y métodos: Se realizó una reforma estructural del quirófano de neurocirugía a propósito de la adquisición y uso de un O-arm. Se ampliaron las medidas y blindajes del quirófano, y se instaló una mampara blindada y abatible en su interior. Se midieron dosis de radiación delante y detrás de la mampara. Resultados: La mampara proporciona una radioprotección integral para todo el personal de quirófano (dosis < 5μSv a 2,5 m del gantry por cada exploración con O-arm; 0,0μSv tras la mampara por cada exploración de O-arm; dosis acumulada anual tras la mampara, indetectable), obvia la necesidad de delantales plomados y dosímetros personales y minimiza la circulación de personal. El aumento del tamaño del quirófano permite almacenar los equipos dentro y minimiza el riesgo de colisión o contaminación. Los quirófanos rectangulares permiten aumentar la distancia al foco emisor de radiación. Conclusiones: El blindaje de paredes, techos y suelos, la forma rectangular y la superficie lo más amplia posible, la presencia de una mampara plomada y abatible, y los sistemas de seguridad que impiden una irrupción inesperada en el quirófano mientras se está irradiando son cuestiones relevantes a tener en cuenta en el diseño del quirófano de neurocirugía

Objective: To describe pros and cons of some radiation protection measures and the implications on the design of a neurosurgery operating room. Material and methods: Concurring with the acquisition and use of an O-arm device, a structural remodeling of our neurosurgery operating room was carried out. The theater was enlarged, the shielding was reinforced and a foldable leaded screen was installed inside the operating room. Radiation doses were measured in front of and behind the screen. Results: The screen provides whole-body radiation protection for all the personnel inside the theater (effective dose <5μSv at 2,5 m from the gantry per O-arm exploration; 0,0μSv received behind the screen per O-arm exploration; and undetectable cumulative annual radiation dose behind the screen), obviates the need for leaded aprons and personal dosimeters, and minimizes the circulation of personnel. Enlarging the size of the operating room allows storing the equipment inside and minimizes the risk of collision and contamination. Rectangular rooms provide greater distance from the source of radiation. Conclusion: Floor, ceiling and walls shielding, a rectangular-shaped and large enough theater, the presence of a foldable leaded screen, and the security systems precluding an unexpected irruption into the operating room during irradiation are relevant issues to consider when designing a neurosurgery operating theater

Influence of Internet and Social Media in the Promotion of Alternative Oncology, Cancer Quackery, and the Predatory Publishing Phenomenon.

In the last decade, electronic media has irrupted physician's clinical practice. Patients increasingly use Internet and social media to obtain enormous amounts of unsupervised data about cancer. Blogs, social networking sites, online support groups and forums are useful channels for medical education and experience sharing but also perfect environments for misinformation, quackery, violation of privacy and lack of professionalism. The widespread availability of such electronic resources allows some followers of the alternative oncology to spread useless irrational and controversial remedies for cancer, like false medicaments, miraculous diets, electronic devices, and even psychic therapies, as did charlatans in the past, providing false expectations about cancer treatments. Moreover, so-called predatory journals have introduced confusion and malpractice within the academic biomedical publishing system. This is a rising editorial phenomenon affecting all fields of biomedicine, including oncology that jeopardizes the quality of scientific contribution and damages the image of open access publication.

[Radiation protection measures: Implications on the design of neurosurgery operating rooms]. / Medidas de protección radiológica: implicaciones en el diseño de quirófanos de neurocirugía.

OBJECTIVE: To describe pros and cons of some radiation protection measures and the implications on the design of a neurosurgery operating room. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Concurring with the acquisition and use of an O-arm device, a structural remodeling of our neurosurgery operating room was carried out. The theater was enlarged, the shielding was reinforced and a foldable leaded screen was installed inside the operating room. Radiation doses were measured in front of and behind the screen. RESULTS: The screen provides whole-body radiation protection for all the personnel inside the theater (effective dose <5µSv at 2,5 m from the gantry per O-arm exploration; 0,0µSv received behind the screen per O-arm exploration; and undetectable cumulative annual radiation dose behind the screen), obviates the need for leaded aprons and personal dosimeters, and minimizes the circulation of personnel. Enlarging the size of the operating room allows storing the equipment inside and minimizes the risk of collision and contamination. Rectangular rooms provide greater distance from the source of radiation. CONCLUSION: Floor, ceiling and walls shielding, a rectangular-shaped and large enough theater, the presence of a foldable leaded screen, and the security systems precluding an unexpected irruption into the operating room during irradiation are relevant issues to consider when designing a neurosurgery operating theater.

Predatory journals: una amenaza emergente para autores y editores de publicaciones biomédicas / Predatory journals: An emerging threat to authors and editors of biomedical publications

El denominado predatory publishing es un fenómeno reciente y en alza que supone un fraude intelectual, pues pone en peligro la calidad de la contribución científica, compromete a autores, revisores y editores de revistas legítimas, deteriora la imagen de la publicación tipo open access y supone un negocio muy lucrativo para algunos. En este artículo revisamos el concepto y relevancia de las predatory journals y las características que las diferencian de las publicaciones legítimas. Las revistas neuroquirúrgicas y de neurociencia en general no están al margen de este problema. Las instituciones académicas y los comités éticos deberían dar a conocer este fenómeno y proporcionar información y apoyo a los autores y a la comunidad científica en general para evitar su propagación y eventual control del ámbito de la publicación biomédica

So-called predatory publishing is a new and rising phenomenon presenting as an intellectual fraud that jeopardises the quality of scientific contribution, compromises the activity of authors, reviewers and editors of legitimate journals, damages the image of open access publications and is a very profitable business. In this paper, we review the concept and relevance of predatory journals and the characteristics that differentiate them from legitimate publications. Neurosurgical and general neuroscience journals are not immune to this problem. Academic institutions and ethics committees have a duty to raise awareness of this phenomenon and provide information and support to authors and the whole scientific community to avoid its propagation and potential control of biomedical publishing

Predatory journals: una amenaza emergente para autores y editores de publicaciones biomédicas.

So-called predatory publishing is a new and rising phenomenon presenting as an intellectual fraud that jeopardises the quality of scientific contribution, compromises the activity of authors, reviewers and editors of legitimate journals, damages the image of open access publications and is a very profitable business. In this paper, we review the concept and relevance of predatory journals and the characteristics that differentiate them from legitimate publications. Neurosurgical and general neuroscience journals are not immune to this problem. Academic institutions and ethics committees have a duty to raise awareness of this phenomenon and provide information and support to authors and the whole scientific community to avoid its propagation and potential control of biomedical publishing.