Security and reliability of CUSTOMBONE cranioplasties: A prospective multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Repairing bone defects generated by craniectomy is a major therapeutic challenge in terms of bone consolidation as well as functional and cognitive recovery. Furthermore, these surgical procedures are often grafted with complications such as infections, breaches, displacements and rejections leading to failure and thus explantation of the prosthesis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cumulative explantation and infection rates following the implantation of a tailored cranioplasty CUSTOMBONE prosthesis made of porous hydroxyapatite. One hundred and ten consecutive patients requiring cranial reconstruction for a bone defect were prospectively included in a multicenter study constituted of 21 centres between December 2012 and July 2014. Follow-up lasted 2 years. RESULTS: Mean age of patients included in the study was 42±15 years old (y.o), composed mainly by men (57.27%). Explantations of the CUSTOMBONE prosthesis were performed in 13/110 (11.8%) patients, significantly due to infections: 9/13 (69.2%) (p<0.0001), with 2 (15.4%) implant fracture, 1 (7.7%) skin defect and 1 (7.7%) following the mobilization of the implant. Cumulative explantation rates were successively 4.6% (SD 2.0), 7.4% (SD 2.5), 9.4% (SD 2.8) and 11.8% (SD 2.9%) at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months. Infections were identified in 16/110 (14.5%): 8/16 (50%) superficial and 8/16 (50%) deep. None of the following elements, whether demographic characteristics, indications, size, location of the implant, redo surgery, co-morbidities or medical history, were statistically identified as risk factors for prosthesis explantation or infection. CONCLUSION: Our study provides relevant clinical evidence on the performance and safety of CUSTOMBONE prosthesis in cranial procedures. Complications that are difficulty incompressible mainly occur during the first 6 months, but can appear at a later stage (>1 year). Thus assiduous, regular and long-term surveillances are necessary.

[Thromboprophylaxis in neurosurgery and head trauma]. / Thromboprophylaxie en neurochirurgie et en neurotraumatologie intracrânienne.

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is between 20 and 35% using contrast venography, with a rate of symptomatic DVT between 2.3 and 6% in neurosurgery without any prophylaxis. The risk of DVT is poorly evaluated in head injured patients but is around 5%. Specific risk factors in neurosurgery are: a motor deficit, a meningioma or malignant tumour, a large tumour, age over 60 years, surgery lasting more than 4 hours, a chemotherapy. The benefit of mechanical methods or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for the prevention of DVP in neurosurgery is demonstrated (grade A). Each method decreases the risk by about 50%. A postoperative prophylaxis with a LMWH does not seem to increase the risk of intracranial bleeding (grade C). There is no demonstrated benefit to begin a prophylaxis with LMWH before the intervention. The duration of the prophylaxis is 7 to 10 days but this has not been scientifically determined.

[Thromboprophylaxis in elective spinal surgery and spinal cord injury]. / Thromboprophylaxie en chirurgie rachidienne traumatologique et non traumatologique.

The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after spinal cord injury is very high. Without prophylaxis the incidence of DVT using venography is 81% and the risk of symptomatic DVT is between 12 and 23%. The risk is much lower in elective spine surgery. After discectomy or laminectomy on less than two spine levels, the risk of DVT is less than 1%. After spinal fusion or extended laminectomy, the risk can be estimated between 0.3 and 2.2%. A prophylaxis is recommended for all patients after spinal cord injury (grade A). The association of a mechanical method and heparin is recommended (grade B). The duration of prophylaxis is 3 months in patients with a motor deficit (grade C). No prophylaxis is recommended after discectomy or limited laminectomy in patients without additional risk factors. Mechanical methods are recommended after spinal fusion or extended laminectomy. For patients with additional risk factors a low molecular weight heparin is recommended.

[Prevention of venous perioperative thromboembolism in ENT and maxillofacial surgery]. / Prévention de la maladie thromboembolique veineuse périopératoire en chirurgie ORL et maxillofaciale.

There are few studies of poor methodological quality on the risk of thromboembolism in head and neck surgery. The incidence of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis is estimated between, 0.1% and 0.6%. The patient's risk factors (cancer, alcoholism, smoking, malnutrition) determine for the assessment of the potential benefit of thromboembolism prophylaxis. No method can be recommended based on the literature. In patients receiving anticoagulant therapy undergoing superficial head and neck surgery or dental extraction, the literature suggest to continue anticoagulation throughout the perioperative period.

[Dural tears: Regarding a series of 100 cases]. / Les plaies durales: à propos d'une série de 100 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Dural tears are a dreaded surgical incident because they are difficult to anticipate and may lead to serious complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The French College of Neurosurgery analyzed 100 cases of dural tears declared on the physicians accreditation website from the Haute Autorité de santé (Regional Health Authority). A questionnaire on drainage, type of dural repair and bed rest duration was sent to 87 French neurosurgeons. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of patients with dural tears had a history of previous spinal surgery and the most common cause of tear was surgical fibrosis into the operative field for 30% of cases. Sixty-four percent had no history of spinal surgery and, in 33% of cases, the dural tear occurred during a surgery for herniated disc. Drainage was proposed case by case in 76% of cases, the patient was allowed to stand up at day 1 in 48% of cases. The treatment of dural tears combined different techniques including in situ injection of biological glue in 86% of cases. The most common complication was the need of wound repair procedure in 59.5% of cases, which was complicated by meningitis in 21.5% of cases. CONCLUSION: This study shows the lack of formal consensus about the procedure of repair, the method of drainage or the need to keep the patient bed ridden. This study highlights a relatively high frequency of dural tears, its potentially serious complications and stresses the need for prospective studies in order to define the appropriate action to undertake when faced with this type of incident.

[Surgery of brain metastases]. / Place de la chirurgie dans la prise en charge des métastases cérébrales.

Surgical excision of brain metastases has been well evaluated in unique metastases. Two randomized phase III trial have shown that combined with adjuvant whole brain radiotherapy, it significantly improves overall survival. However, even in the presence of multiple brain metastases, surgery may be useful. Also, even in lesions amenable to radiosurgery, surgical resection is preferred when tumors displayed cystic or necrotic aspect with important edema or when located in highly eloquent areas or cortico-subcortically. Furthermore, surgery may have a diagnostic role, in the absence of histological documentation of the primary disease, to rule out a differential diagnosis (brain abscess, lymphoma, primary tumor of the central nervous system or radionecrosis). Finally, the biological documentation of brain metastatic disease might be useful in situations where a specific targeted therapy can be proposed. Selection of patients who will really benefit from surgery should take into account three factors, clinical and functional status of the patient, systemic disease status and characteristics of intracranial metastases. Given the improved overall survival of cancer patients partially due to the advent of effective targeted therapies on systemic disease, a renewed interest has been given to the local treatment of brain metastases. Surgical resection currently represents a valuable tool in the armamentarium of brain metastases but has also become a diagnostic and decision tool that can affect therapeutic strategies in these patients.

The insular lobe: physiopathological and surgical considerations.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery of the insula represents a technical challenge, because of the proximity of the internal capsule to the lenticulostriate arteries and the lack of certainty concerning its functionality. Using intraoperative direct cerebral stimulation, combined with neuronavigation, the authors operated on 12 insular gliomas. On the basis of this experience, the physiopathological and surgical implications are discussed. METHODS: A low-grade insular glioma, revealed by seizures, was diagnosed in 12 right-handed patients with a normal neurological status. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed that, according to Yasargil's classification system, three patients harbored Type 3 lesions and nine patients had Type 5 lesions (10 tumors on the right side and 2 on the left dominant side). All patients underwent surgery using direct cerebral stimulation, under general anesthesia in nine patients (motor mapping) and under local anesthesia in three patients (sensorimotor and language mapping). Ultrasonography and/or neuronavigation was used in all cases. Preoperative angio-computed tomographic scanning showed the lenticulostriate arteries in two patients. RESULTS: The internal capsule was systematically detected, and the language areas were identified within the left insula in the awake patients. The lenticulostriate arteries were seen in two patients. Seven patients presented an immediate postoperative deficit; six of them recovered completely within 3 months. Four resections were total, six were subtotal, and two were partial (left insula). CONCLUSION: The use of intraoperative direct cerebral stimulation and neuronavigation allows surgery of the insula with minimization of the risk of sequelae, but its use is still limited with regard to the dominant hemisphere, owing to the essential role of this structure in language.

Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography in detection of cerebral aneurysms in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is a recently developed imaging modality. We demonstrate the value of this noninvasive method in replacing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the detection of aneurysms of the circle of Willis in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted to our institution. METHODS: A helical acquisition was performed for computed tomographic scans obtained for 120 patients with a 1 mm per second table speed and a 1-mm collimation, 1:1 pitch. Axial source images were transferred on a console Advantage Windows workstation (General Electric, Milwaukee, WI) and CTA was obtained using maximum intensity projection reconstruction. All patients had undergone DSA of the circle of Willis (80 patients preoperatively and 40 postoperatively). RESULTS: A total of 129 aneurysms were detected in 107 patients. Three-dimensional CTA disclosed nothing abnormal in 13 patients. Ninety-two patients sustained one aneurysm, 10 patients sustained two, 3 patients sustained three, and 2 patients sustained four. All results were confirmed by DSA. In two cases, aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery were defected by CTA but not by DSA. When using angiographic views, the aneurysm was always masked by a branch of the middle cerebral artery. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of three-dimensional CTA is comparable with that of DSA, and its specificity is 100%. Because CTA is simple, quick, noninvasive, and reliable, we think that it can eventually replace DSA.

A phase I study of an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

OBJECTIVE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an operationally specific antigen in malignant gliomas; it is overexpressed in > 60% of these tumors, whereas its expression is very low in normal brain. This study aimed to evaluate whether an adequate amount of an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (MAb) could reach a tumor after a single intravenous administration. METHODS: This study was open, nonrandomized, and uncontrolled. Single doses (20, 40, 100, 200, or 400 mg) of the murine MAb EMD55900 (MAb 425) were administered intravenously before surgery to 30 patients with malignant brain tumors. Serum samples were taken at defined time intervals during infusion, to determine EMD55900 concentrations, and 10, 21, and/or 42 days after infusion, to evaluate the development of human anti-mouse antibodies. Tumor samples were investigated for EGFR and EMD55900 contents. RESULTS: Tolerance to EMD55900 was good. Increased liver transaminase levels were noted for three patients with Grade 1 toxicity. Twenty patients developed significant human anti-mouse antibody titers, without correlation with the administered dose. The median half-life of EMD55900 in serum ranged from 6 hours for 20 mg to 24 hours for 400 mg. In the membrane fractions of the tumors, EGFR saturation by EMD55900 varied with the injected dose of MAb. No binding was detected after a 20-mg dose. After doses of 40, 100, 200, and 400 mg, the mean saturation levels were 33, 73, 89, and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that a single intravenous administration of EMD55900 is well tolerated and produces substantial in vivo tumor binding with doses > 100 mg.

Early rebleeding from intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: report of 20 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECT: In this study the authors sought to estimate the frequency, seriousness, and delay of rebleeding in a homogeneous series of 20 patients whom they treated between May 1987 and May 1997 for arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) that were revealed by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). The natural history of intracranial dural AVFs remains obscure. In many studies attempts have been made to evaluate the risk of spontaneous hemorrhage, especially as a function of the pattern of venous drainage: a higher occurrence of bleeding was reported in AVFs with retrograde cortical venous drainage, with an overall estimated rate of 1.8% per year in the largest series in the literature. However, very few studies have been designed to establish the risk of rebleeding, an omission that the authors seek to remedy. METHODS: Presenting symptoms in the 20 patients (17 men and three women, mean age 54 years) were acute headache in 12 patients (60%), acute neurological deficit in eight (40%), loss of consciousness in five (25%), and generalized seizures in one (5%). Results of the clinical examination were normal in five patients and demonstrated a neurological deficit in 12 and coma in three. Computerized tomography scanning revealed intracranial bleeding in all cases (15 intraparenchymal hematomas, three subarachnoid hemorrhages, and two subdural hematomas). A diagnosis of AVF was made with the aid of angiographic studies in 19 patients, whereas it was a perioperative discovery in the remaining patient. There were 12 Type III and eight Type IV AVFs according to the revised classification of Djindjian and Merland, which meant that all AVFs in this study had retrograde cortical venous drainage. The mean duration between the first hemorrhage and treatment was 20 days. Seven patients (35%) presented with acute worsening during this delay due to radiologically proven early rebleeding. Treatment consisted of surgery alone in 10 patients, combined embolization and surgery in eight, embolization only in one, and stereotactic radiosurgery in one. Three patients died, one worsened, and in 16 (80%) neurological status improved, with 15 of 16 AVFs totally occluded on repeated angiographic studies (median follow up 10 months). CONCLUSIONS: The authors found that AVFs with retrograde cortical venous drainage present a high risk of early rebleeding (35% within 2 weeks after the first hemorrhage), with graver consequences than the first hemorrhage. They therefore advocate complete and early treatment in all cases of AVF with cortical venous drainage revealed by an ICH.

Correspondence between functional magnetic resonance imaging somatotopy and individual brain anatomy of the central region: comparison with intraoperative stimulation in patients with brain tumors.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to determine the somatotopical structure-function relationships of the primary motor cortex in individual patients by using functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging. This was done to assess whether there is a displacement of functional areas compared with anatomical landmarks in patients harboring brain tumors close to the central region, and to validate these findings with intraoperative cortical stimulation. METHODS: One hundred twenty hemispheres in 60 patients were studied by obtaining blood oxygen level-dependent fMR images in patients while they performed movements of the foot, hand, and face on both sides. There was a good correspondence between anatomical landmarks in the deep portion of the central sulcus on axial slices and the somatotopical organization of primary motor areas. Pixels activated during hand movements were centered on a small characteristic digitation; those activated during movements in the face and foot areas were located in the lower portion of the central sulcus (lateral to the hand area) and around the termination of the central sulcus, respectively. In diseased hemispheres, signal-intensity changes were still observed in the projection of the expected anatomical area. The fMR imaging data mapped intraoperative electrical stimulation in 92% of positive sites. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high correspondence between the somatotopical anatomy and function in the central sulcus, which was similar in normal and diseased hemispheres. The fMR imaging and electrical stimulation data were highly concordant. These findings may enable the neurosurgeon to locate primary motor areas more easily during surgery.

Ganglioglioma of the pineal region: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Ganglioglioma is a lesion rarely encountered in the pineal region. Only six cases have been published to our knowledge. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present the case of a 38-year-old male suffering from a pineal ganglioglioma that was totally removed by surgery. Histological diagnosis was made by light microscopy using immunostaining for synaptophysin. We review the few radiological and pathological data available in the literature concerning this very rare lesion for which surgery alone provides excellent results. CONCLUSION: The possibility of long term remission obtained by surgery alone and the lack of specificity of clinical and radiological features of ganglioglioma are additional reasons for an aggressive surgical management of pineal tumors when tumor markers and cytopathological examination of the cerebrospinal fluid are not contributive.

Multimodal anatomic, functional, and metabolic brain imaging for tumor resection.

OBJECTIVE: Improvement of neurosurgical techniques with a more detailed description of brain tumors and their functional environment. METHODS: We performed: (1) anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for reference, (2) functional sequences dedicated to the adjacent cortical structures (sensorimotor, visual, language paradigms), and (3) thallium 201 cerebral tomoscintigraphy to visualize active tumor invasion. Data were transferred to a workstation for automatic registration. RESULTS: All data were combined into one synthetic image showing the foci of high proliferative activity, which have to be completely resected, and the peritumoral functional structures, which have to be spared in order to minimize postoperative sequelae. This trimodal image is entered into a surgical neuronavigation computer for preoperative planning in order to outline tumoral target and functional risk areas. All this information is displayed in the operative microscope (Zeiss MKM) optically linked to MR images. This multimodality technique diminishes operative time by reducing electrocorticography and improves the operative short-term outcome. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging is useful for optimization of neurosurgical tumor resection.

[First treatment for brain metastases by stereotactic radiosurgery]. / Traitement premier des métastases cérébrales par irradiation en conditions stéréotaxiques.

Local control of brain metastases is better with first treatment by stereotactic radiosurgery than with radiosurgery for recurrence. We reported a retrospective analysis of the influence of clinical and technical factors on local control and survival after radiosurgery realised in first intention. From January 1994 to December 1997, 26 patients presenting with 43 metastases underwent radiosurgery. The median age was 61 years and the median Karnofsky index 70. Primary sites included: lung (12 patients), kidney (7 patients), breast (2 patients), colon (1 patient), melanoma (2 patients), osteosarcoma (1 patient), it was unknown for one patient. Seven patients had extracranial metastases. Twenty-one sessions of radiosurgery have been realized for one metastase, and 9 for two, three or four lesions. The median diameter was 21 mm and the median volume 1.8 cm3. The median peripheral dose to the lesion was 14 Gy, and the median dose at the isocenter 20 Gy. Forty-two metastases were evaluable for response analysis. The overall local control rate was 90.5% and the 1-year, 2- and 3-year actuarial rates were 85% and 75%. In univariate analysis, theorical radioresistance was significantly associated with better local control (100% versus 77%, p < 0.05). All patients were evaluable for survival. The median survival rate was 15 months. Four patients had a symptomatic oedema (RTOG grade II). Two lesions have required a surgical excision. In conclusion, low dose radiosurgery (14 Gy delivered at the periphery of metastasis) can be proposed in first intention for brain metastases, in particularly for theorical radioresistant lesions.

[Importance of radiotherapy in stereotactic conditions (radiosurgery) in brain metastasis: experience and results of the Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière Group]. / Intérêt de la radiothérapie en conditions stéréotaxiques (radiochirurgie) des métastases cérébrales: expérience et résultats du groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière.

PURPOSE: Retrospective analysis of the influence of clinical and technical factors on local control and survival after radiosurgery for brain metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1994 to December 1996, 42 patients presenting with 71 metastases underwent radiosurgery for brain metastasis. The median age was 56 years and the median Karnofsky index 80. Primary sites included: lung (20 patients), kidney (seven), breast (five), colon (two), melanoma (three), osteosarcoma (one) and it was unknown for three patients. Seventeen patients had extracranial metastasis. Twenty-four patients were treated at recurrence which occurred after whole brain irradiation (12 patients), surgical excision (four) or after both treatments (eight). Thirty-six sessions of radiosurgery have been realized for one metastasis and 13 for two, three or four lesions. The median metastasis diameter was 21 mm and the median volume 1.7 cm3. The median peripheral dose to the lesion was 14 Gy, and the median dose at the isocenter 20 Gy. RESULTS: Sixty-five metastases were evaluable for response analysis. The overall local control rate was 82% and the 1-year actuarial rate was 72%. In univariate analysis, theoretical radioresistance (P = 0.001), diameter less than 3 cm (P = 0.039) and initial treatment with radiosurgery (P = 0.041) were significantly associated with increased local control. Only the first two factors remained significant in multivariate analysis. No prognostic factor of overall survival was identified. The median survival was 12 months. Six patients had a symptomatic oedema (RTOG grade 2), only one of which requiring a surgical excision. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 14 Gy delivered at the periphery of metastasis seems to be a sufficient dose to control most brain metastases, with a minimal toxicity. Better results were obtained for lesions initially treated with radiosurgery, theoretically radioresistant and with a diameter less than 3 cm.

[Preoperative direct cortical and sub-cortical electric stimulation during cerebral surgery in functional areas]. / Intérêt des stimulations électriques corticales et sous-corticales directes peropératoires dans la chirurgie cérébrale en zone fonctionnelle.

Indications of surgical treatment for lesions in functional cerebral areas depend on the ratio between the definitive neurological deficit and the beneficial effect of resection. Detection of eloquent cortex is difficult because of important individual variability. Peroperative direct cortical and subcortical electrical stimulations (DCS) provide the most precise and reliable method currently available allowing identification and preservation of neurons essential for motricity, sensitivity++ and language. We report our preliminary experience with DCS in surgery of intracerebral infiltrative tumors with a consecutive series of 15 patients operated from November 96 through September 97 in our institution. Presenting symptoms in the 15 patients (8 males, 7 females, mean age 43 years) were seizures in 11 cases (73%) and neurological deficit in 4 cases (27%). Clinical examination was normal in 11 patients and revealed hemiparesia in 4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with three-dimensional reconstruction showed a precentral tumor in 10 cases, central lesion in one patient, postcentral lesion in two cases, right insular tumor (non-dominant hemisphere) in one case. All patients underwent surgical resection using DCS with detection in 13 cases of motor cortex and subcortical pathways under genera anesthesia, in one case of somatosensory area under local anesthesia, and in one case of language areas also under local anesthesia. The tumor was recurrent in two patients had been operated earlier but without DCS. Resection, verified by postoperative MRI, was total in 12 cases (80%) and estimated at 80% in 3 patients. Histological examination revealed an infiltrative glioma in 12 cases (8 low grade astrocytomas, 3 low grade oligodendrogliomas, and one anaplastic oligodendroglioma), and metastases in 3 cases. Eight patients had no postoperative deficit, while the other 7 patients were impaired, with, in all cases except one, complete recovery in 15 days to 2 months. Direct cortical and subcortical electrical stimulations offer a reliable, precise and safe method, allowing functional mapping especially useful in case of infiltrative cerebral tumors in eloquent areas. This technique allows improvement in the quality of tumoral resection and concurrently a minimization of the risk of definitive postoperative neurological deficit.

[Paraplegia and the sitting position]. / Paraplégie et position assise.

The sitting position in neurosurgery may lead to complications such as air embolism and neurological complications. We report the case of a 16-year-old male who suffered from post-operation paraplegia after surgery for Arnold Chiari disease. This patient had several risk factors and serious morphological spinal abnormalities. We propose to include monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) during this surgery in order to detect this type of devastating incident.

[Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis: is there a place for surgery? Case report and review of literature]. / Métastases intramédullaires de cancers viscéraux: quelle place pour la chirurgie? Revue de la littérature à propos d'un cas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The usual onset of intramedullary spinal cord metastases at an advanced stage of cancer disease explains that surgical removal of such lesions is rarely performed. We tried to define the place for surgery in the management of such lesions. METHODS: We report the observation of a 52-year-old male patient presenting with a metastasis of the conus medullaris revealing a lung cancer. Surgical excision of the lesion led to pain relief and improvement of bladder dysfunction. We present a review of pertinent literature. RESULTS: Surgery allows histological diagnosis in case of isolated, revealing tumor. In other selected cases, radical removal of intramedullary metastases could improve the quality and comfort of life although it does not seem to affect the duration of survival.

[Contribution of perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with cerebral ganglioglioma]. / Intérêt de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique de perfusion. A propos d'un cas de gangliogliome cérébral.

A 48-year-old woman was admitted to the Neurosurgery Department for a large frontal lobe tumor revealed by partial seizures. The patient was conscious and alert. Neurological examination was normal. MRI study showed a right frontal lobe tumor compounded of an anterior solid mass strongly enhanced after gadolinium injection and a posterior voluminous cyst with important mass effect. The cerebral blood volume (CBV) map showed no area of elevated CBV within the tumor consistent with a low-grade tumor. The patient was operated on with a presumed diagnosis of anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Postoperative course was uneventful. Histopathological examination was consistent with a benign ganglioglioma. The patient did not undergo an additional treatment. One year later, the patient was healthy and neurological and neuropsychological examination were normal. MRI study did not show any recurrence. This case emphazises the relevance of perfusion MR imaging in the preoperative workup of glioneuronal and glial tumors.

[The prognosis of medulloblastoma in adults]. / Pronostic des médulloblastomes de l'adulte.

We studied retrospectively the series of 24 patients (17 men, 7 women), median age 25.5 years (range: 16-57), operated upon for a cerebellar medulloblastoma from March 1979 to June 1988. The tumors were diagnosed for all the patients by C.T. scan and by M.R. imaging for the six last patients. Seven tumors (29.2%) were located in the fourth ventricle, 2 in the vermis (8.3%), 9 in the cerebellar hemisphere (37.5%), 5 in the vermis and cerebellar hemisphere (20.8%). One patient had a diffuse infiltration of the cerebellum. All patients have been operated on (complete removal: 15 patients (62.5%), subtotal removal: 8 patients (33.3%), biopsy: 1 patient). Operative mortality was 8.3% (2/24). One patient died at two months from septicemia. The twenty-one surviving patients received radiotherapy. Twelve patients received both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Six patients (25%) died during the follow up at 17, 22, 24, 60, 84 and 85 months. One patient is lost to follow up at 45 months and 13 patients are living at the closing date (June 1989). For the total group (n = 24) the probability of survival at 5 years was 64.8% (C.I. 95%: 42.8%-86.8%). Among the 21 patients who received radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy and chemotherapy the probability of survival at 5 years was 74.4% (C.I. 95%: 52.2%-96.7%). We studied the following predictors of poor outcome: age, sex, prognosis subgroups as defined by Chang et Coll., extension of tumor removal, adjunction of chemotherapy, histology. None of these factors was statistically related to the survival duration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)