The Use of Enteric Contrast in the Emergency Setting.

Historically, computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis had been performed routinely with enteric contrast to help improve diagnostic accuracy. However, the utility of enteric contrast has been called into question recently, particularly in the high-patient-volume setting of the emergency department. This article reviews the role of enteric contrast in the emergency setting. Particular emphasis is given to specific clinical scenarios in which enteric contrast provides value. These include the identification of abdominal postsurgical complications such as anastomotic leaks and fistulas, detection of penetrating bowel injuries, evaluation of acute appendicitis, and assessment of small-bowel obstructions.

Glioblastoma Treated With Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Despite the multitude of available treatments, glioblastoma (GBM) remains an aggressive and uniformly fatal tumor. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a novel, minimally invasive treatment that holds promise for treating patients with GBM who are not candidates for traditional open craniotomy. However, due to the recent introduction of LITT into clinical practice, large series that evaluate safety and long-term outcomes after LITT are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To present our institution's series of over 50 GBM patients treated with LITT, with regard to safety, efficacy, and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective descriptive study of patients with histologically proven GBM who underwent LITT. Data collected included demographics, tumor location and volume, tumor genetic markers, treatment volume, perioperative complications, and long-term follow-up data. RESULTS: We performed 58 LITT treatments for GBM in 54 patients over 5.5 yr. Forty-one were recurrent tumors while 17 were frontline treatments. Forty GBMs were lobar in location, while 18 were in deep structures (thalamus, insula, corpus callosum). Average tumor volume was 12.5 ± 13.4 cm3. Average percentage of tumor treated with the yellow thermal damage threshold (TDT) line (dose equivalent of 43°C for 2 min) was 93.3% ± 10.6%, and with the blue TDT line (dose equivalent of 43°C for 10 min) was 88.0% ± 14.2%. There were 7 perioperative complications (12%) and 2 mortalities (3.4%). Median overall survival after LITT for the total cohort was 11.5 mo, and median progression-free survival 6.6 mo. CONCLUSION: LITT appears to be a safe and effective treatment for GBM in properly selected patients.

MRI-Guided Interstitial Laser Ablation for Intracranial Lesions: A Large Single-Institution Experience of 133 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Managing difficult-to-access lesions or surgically accessible lesions in fragile patients is a central problem in neurosurgery. MRI-guided interstitial laser ablation (ILA) is a minimally invasive option that may provide a safe means of treating these challenging patients. OBJECTIVE: We aim to (1) evaluate safety, efficacy, and preliminary outcomes within a diverse and large series of ILA treatments; and (2) report technical details and operative trends that proved useful over time in the authors' experience and that may be of use to neurosurgeons who perform ILA. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of ILA patients was performed in terms of demographics, surgical techniques, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 133 intracranial lesions in 120 patients were treated with ILA, including glioblastomas (GBM), other gliomas, metastases, epilepsy foci, and radionecrosis. The rate of complications/unexpected readmission was 6.0%, and the mortality rate was 2.2%. With high-grade tumors, tumor volumes >3 cm in diameter trended toward a higher rate of complication (p = 0.056). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for recurrent GBM were 7.4 and 11.6 months, respectively. As a frontline treatment for newly diagnosed GBM, median PFS and OS were 5.9 and 11.4 months, respectively. For metastases, median PFS was not yet reached, and OS was 17.2 months. CONCLUSION: Our series suggests that ILA is a safe and efficacious treatment for a variety of intracranial pathologies, can be tailored to treat difficult-to-access lesions, and may offer a novel alternative to open craniotomy in properly selected patients.