Neuroimaging Appearance of Cerebral Malignant Epithelioid Glioneuronal Tumors in Children

Malignant epithelioid glioneuronal tumor is a rare high-grade, aggressive brain tumor that shows both glial and neuronal differentiation on histopathology but is not included in the current World Health Organization classification. The neuroimaging appearance is variable but may be secondary to the size of the mass and/or location of the tumor. In our series, all epithelioid glioneuronal tumors were encountered in the supratentorial space and included pineal, temporal, and extratemporal lobar cerebral hemisphere locations. When large, the tumors demonstrate cystic degeneration and necrosis, hemorrhage, contrast enhancement, and regions of low apparent diffusion coefficient scalars consistent with patterns seen with other high-grade pediatric brain tumors. The tumors also have a propensity to spread into the meninges at presentation and for distant CSF spread on follow-up imaging.

Quadratus lumborum block vs. transversus abdominis plane block for caesarean delivery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Anaesthesia 2020;76:393-403. [PMID: 32621529 DOI: 10.1111/anae.15160]

Caesarean delivery is the most commonly performed inpatient surgical procedure globally. Pain after caesarean delivery is moderate to severe if not adequately treated, and is a primary anaesthetic concern for patients. Transversus abdominis plane and quadratus lumborum blocks are fascial plane blocks that have the potential to improve analgesia following caesarean delivery. Although proponents of the quadratus lumborum block suggest that this technique may provide better analgesia compared with transversus abdominis plane block, there are limited data directly comparing these two techniques. We, therefore, performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare transversus abdominis plane and quadratus lumborum block approaches, seeking randomised controlled trials comparing both techniques to each other, or to control, with or without intrathecal morphine. In all, 31 trials with 2188 patients were included and our primary outcome, the cumulative intravenous morphine equivalent consumption at 24 h, was reported in 12 trials. In the absence of intrathecal morphine, transversus abdominis plane and quadratus lumborum blocks were equivalent, and both were superior to control (moderate-quality evidence). In the presence of intrathecal morphine, no differences were found between control, transversus abdominis plane and quadratus lumborum blocks (moderate-quality evidence). Similar results were found for resting and active pain scores at 4-6 h, 8-12 h, 24 h and 36 h, although quadratus lumborum block was associated with lower pain scores at 36 h when compared with transversus abdominis plane block (very low-quality evidence). However, transversus abdominis plane block was associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (moderate-quality evidence) and sedation when compared with inactive control following intrathecal morphine administration (low-quality evidence). There are insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions, but transversus abdominis plane and quadratus lumborum block appear to be superior to control in the absence of intrathecal morphine, but provide limited additional benefit over inactive control when intrathecal morphine is also used.

Clinical features may help to identify children and adolescents with greatest risk for thyroid nodules

BACKGROUND

Thyroid nodules (TN) are detected in a small number of asymptomatic children and adolescents but are more frequently malignant (22-26%) than in adults leading some clinicians to perform thyroid ultrasound (US) for all children with goiter or autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Our study was designed to determine if suspicious clinical features predict the presence of TN in children with goiter or AIT so that US could be performed on those at highest risk.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 223 children and adolescents with goiter or AIT evaluated at a single institution. US was not performed on all patients. It is our practice to define glands that are large, firm, or nodular to palpation as "suspicious". Suspicious glands were interrogated by US and if TN was confirmed, this was further evaluated by fine-needle aspiration followed by surgery if indicated.

RESULTS

The median age was 12.9 years with 74.4% female. TN were confirmed by US in 16.6% of all patients but only 4.8% of those with AIT. By univariate analysis, TN were more common in those with family history of TN or differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), thyroid asymmetry, and lower thyrotropin (TSH) levels. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) was identified in 10.8% of TN and 1.8% of all patients. Firmness was significantly more common in patients with DTC (p = 0.0013).

CONCLUSION

TN were less common in those with AIT than reported in previous studies, suggesting that clinical features might fail to identify the majority of TN in patients with AIT. However, patients with asymmetric thyroid and a family history of TN or DTC have greatest risk for TN.

Accuracy of MR Imaging for Detection of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Infants with Bacterial Meningitis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Bacterial meningitis most commonly affects young children and can result in critical adverse outcomes, including sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The purpose of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging for predicting the development of SNHL among infants with bacterial meningitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was performed among infants (age <365 days) with bacterial meningitis (n = 115). Independent and consensus blinded review of brain MRIs (n = 239) performed less than 90 days from presentation were conducted. Abnormal appearance of the inner ear was defined as enhancement on postcontrast T1-weighted (T1-weighted+C) sequence and FLAIR hyperintensity. The consensus MR imaging appearance of the inner ear on FLAIR, T1-weighted+C, and combined evaluation was compared with criterion standard audiometric testing to determine the sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging for detecting SNHL.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was 50.6 days (range, 0-338 days) and 24.3% had SNHL. Sensitivity and specificity was 0.61/0.96, 0.50/0.94, and 0.61/0.94 for T1-weighted+C, FLAIR hyperintensity, and combined evaluation, respectively, for prediction of SNHL. There was excellent interobserver agreement for both the T1-weighted+C and FLAIR sequences and combined evaluation for presence of abnormal enhancement and hyperintense signal, respectively. Factors associated with abnormal MR imaging findings on T1-weighted+C and/or FLAIR in patients with SNHL included low CSF glucose (P = .04, .02) and high CSF protein (P = .04, .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal enhancement and/or FLAIR hyperintensity of the inner ear demonstrate high specificity and average sensitivity for prediction of SNHL among infants with bacterial meningitis.

Epidural vs. transversus abdominis plane block for abdominal surgery - a systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Traditionally, pain relief for abdominal surgery has centred on epidural analgesia, but transversus abdominis plane block is increasingly being used. Our aim was to compare the analgesic efficacy and the side-effect profile of transversus abdominis plane block with epidural analgesia in a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis. After a systematic search of the electronic databases, we identified 18 randomised controlled trials with 1220 patients. Confirmed by trial sequential analysis, our first co-primary outcome, postoperative pain score at rest at 12 h, was decreased by a mean difference (95%CI) of 0.69 (0.12-1.27; p = 0.02) with epidural analgesia compared with transversus abdominis plane block, with the quality of evidence graded as low. No difference was found for the second co-primary outcome, postoperative pain score at rest at 24 h, with the quality of evidence rated as very low. Relative to transversus abdominis plane block, epidural analgesia further reduced the need for intravenous morphine-equivalent consumption during the 0-24 h interval by a mean difference (95%CI) of 5.91 mg (2.34-9.49; p = 0.001) at the expense of an increased incidence of hypotension at 72 h, with a risk ratio (95%CI) of 5.88 (2.08-16.67; p < 0.001). Our meta-analysis was limited by detection and performance bias, significant statistical heterogeneity and publication bias. In view of the minimal clinically important difference in postoperative pain scores, epidural analgesia was interpreted to not be clinically different to transversus abdominis plane block after abdominal surgery. With transversus abdominis plane block, the increase in intravenous morphine-equivalent consumption at 24 h should be balanced against the decreased risk of hypotension at 72 h. In choosing between epidural analgesia and transversus abdominis plane block, potential benefits should be balanced against the reported risk of harm, although the confidence in the evidence varied, underlining the uncertainty in our estimates.

The Unwound Cochlea: A Specific Imaging Marker of Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Branchio-oto-renal syndrome is an important syndromic cause of hearing loss. Our aim was to determine the test characteristics of the unwound cochlea on temporal bone CT for the diagnosis of branchio-oto-renal syndrome in a cohort of children with hearing loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were identified retrospectively with a clinical diagnosis of branchio-oto-renal syndrome and CT imaging of the temporal bones. Age-matched controls were also identified with sensorineural hearing loss not related to a diagnosis of branchio-oto-renal syndrome and CT imaging of the temporal bones. All examinations were reviewed by 2 neuroradiologists blinded to the diagnosis of branchio-oto-renal syndrome versus controls for the absence/presence of an unwound cochlea defined as anteromedial rotation and displacement of the middle and apical turns away from the basal turn.

RESULTS

The final study group comprised 9 patients with branchio-oto-renal syndrome (age range, 1-14 years; mean age, 8.0 ± 4.3 years) and 50 control patients (age range, 1-16 years; mean age, 7.9 ± 4.1 years). The cochlea was subjectively abnormal in all 9 patients. In 8 patients (89%), imaging demonstrated a typical unwound cochlear morphology. By contrast, none of the control subjects demonstrated an unwound cochlea on either side. Statistically, the unwound cochlea was significantly more frequent in the branchio-oto-renal group compared with controls (P < .001). The unwound cochlea was 89% sensitive and 100% specific for the diagnosis of branchio-oto-renal syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The unwound cochlea is a specific imaging marker of branchio-oto-renal syndrome. These findings further support the diagnostic accuracy and therefore the utility of temporal bone imaging in the diagnosis of this disorder.