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Sala F. Intraoperative neurophysiology in pediatric neurosurgery: a historical perspective. Childs Nerv Syst 2023; 39:2929-2941. [PMID: 37776333 PMCID: PMC10613152 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-06155-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intraoperative neurophysiology (ION) has been established over the past three decades as a valuable discipline to improve the safety of neurosurgical procedures with the main goal of reducing neurological morbidity. Neurosurgeons have substantially contributed to the development of this field not only by implementing the use and refinement of ION in the operating room but also by introducing novel techniques for both mapping and monitoring of neural pathways. METHODS This review provides a personal perspective on the evolution of ION in a variety of pediatric neurosurgical procedures: from brain tumor to brainstem surgery, from spinal cord tumor to tethered cord surgery. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The contribution of pediatric neurosurgeons is highlighted showing how our discipline has played a crucial role in promoting ION at the turn of the century. Finally, a view on novel ION techniques and their potential implications for pediatric neurosurgery will provide insights into the future of ION, further supporting the view of a functional, rather than merely anatomical, approach to pediatric neurosurgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sala
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
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Vetrano IG, Gioppo A, Faragò G, Pinzi V, Pollo B, Broggi M, Schiariti M, Ferroli P, Acerbi F. Hemangioblastomas and Other Vascular Origating Tumors of Brain or Spinal Cord. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1405:377-403. [PMID: 37452946 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-23705-8_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Hemangioblastomas (HBs) are highly vascularized, slow-growing, rare benign tumors (WHO grade I). They account for about 2% of intracranial neoplasms; however, they are the most common primary cerebellar tumors in adults. Another frequent seat is the spinal cord (2-10% of primary spinal cord tumors). HBs are constituted by stromal and capillary vascular cells; macroscopically, HBs appear as nodular tumors, with or without cystic components. Although most of the HBs are sporadic (57-75%), they represent a particular component of von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), an autosomal dominant syndrome with high penetrance, due to a germline pathogenic mutation in the VHL gene, which is a tumor suppressor with chromosomal location on the short arm of chromosome three. VHL disease determines a variety of malignant and benign tumors, most frequently HBs, renal cell carcinomas, pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and endolymphatic sac tumors. Up to 20% of cases are due to de novo pathogenic variants without a family history. Many epidemiologic details of these tumors, especially the sporadic forms, are not well known. The median age of patients with sporadic HBS is about 40 years. More than two-third of VHL patients develop one or more central nervous system HBs during their lifetime; in case of VHL, patients at first diagnosis are usually younger than the patients with sporadic tumors. The most common presenting signs and symptoms are related to increased intracranial pressure, cerebellar signs, or spinal cord alterations in case of spinal involvement. Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard for the diagnosis, assessment, and follow-up of HBs, both sporadic and syndrome-related; angiography is rarely performed because the diagnosis is easily obtained with magnetic resonance. However, the diagnosis of an asymptomatic lesion does not automatically result in therapeutic actions, as the risks of treatment and the onset of possible neurological deficit need to be balanced, considering that HBs may remain asymptomatic and have a static or slow-growing behavior. In such cases, regular follow-up can represent a valid therapeutic option until the patients remain asymptomatic. There are no actual pharmacological therapies that are demonstrated to be effective for HBs. Surgery represents the primary therapeutic approach for these tumors. Observation or radiotherapy also plays a role in the long-term management of patients harboring HBs, especially in VHL; in few selected cases, endovascular treatment has been suggested before surgical removal. This chapter presents a systematic overview of epidemiology, clinical appearance, histopathological and neuroradiological characteristics of central nervous system HBs. Moreover, the genetic and molecular biology of sporadic and VHL HBS deserves special attention. Furthermore, we will describe all the available therapeutic options, along with the follow-up management. Finally, we will briefly report other vascular originating tumors as hemangioendotheliomas, hemangiomas, or angiosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio G Vetrano
- Neurovascular Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Gioppo
- Interventional Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Faragò
- Interventional Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Pinzi
- Radiotherapy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Bianca Pollo
- Neuropathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Morgan Broggi
- Neurovascular Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Schiariti
- Neurovascular Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Ferroli
- Neurovascular Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Acerbi
- Neurovascular Surgery Unit and Experimental Microsurgical Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via G. Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Brogna C, Perera N, Ghimire P, Bruchhage MM, Abela E, Richardson MP, Vergani F, Bhangoo R, Ashkan K. First Human In Vivo Neuroelectrophysiology Recordings of Uncrossed Dentatothalamocortical White Matter Connections: On the Fast Tract. Neurology 2022; 99:332-335. [PMID: 35794017 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aim to demonstrate intraoperative recording of cerebellar to cortical pathways that have not been previously recorded in humans, though imaged. METHODS We report two cases with intraoperative neurophysiological mapping of cerebello-cortical tracts. Direct electrical stimulation of subcortical cerebellum along with recordings of cortical evoked potential and motor muscle recordings were performed during surgery. MR tractography data from healthy subjects were used to further illustrate the pathways. RESULTS Neurophysiological recordings showed large waveforms of evoked potentials in bilateral electrodes over premotor/motor cortices on stimulation of the dentate nucleus. EMG recordings showed responses in face and neck muscles on stimulation of dentate nucleus at motor threshold. We thus demonstrated first-in-human in vivo neurophysiological evidence of cerebellum to cortex responses through an uncrossed dentato-thalamo-cortical tract to the motor/premotor cortices. DISCUSSION This technique provides a methodology for the direct mapping of the cerebellum and cerebello-cerebral connections. We hypothesize a direct structural connection from the dentate nucleus to the premotor and motor cortices, as well as to ipsilateral hemibody muscles, acting as a fast route of cerebellar output and 'back up' for immediate motor responses. This will further help explain the modulatory effects of the cerebellum on motor, language and cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Brogna
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Noemia Perera
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Prajwal Ghimire
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Muriel Mk Bruchhage
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eugenio Abela
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mark P Richardson
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Vergani
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ranjeev Bhangoo
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Keyoumars Ashkan
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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De Benedictis A, Rossi-Espagnet MC, de Palma L, Carai A, Marras CE. Networking of the Human Cerebellum: From Anatomo-Functional Development to Neurosurgical Implications. Front Neurol 2022; 13:806298. [PMID: 35185765 PMCID: PMC8854219 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.806298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past, the cerebellum was considered to be substantially involved in sensory-motor coordination. However, a growing number of neuroanatomical, neuroimaging, clinical and lesion studies have now provided converging evidence on the implication of the cerebellum in a variety of cognitive, affective, social, and behavioral processes as well. These findings suggest a complex anatomo-functional organization of the cerebellum, involving a dense network of cortical territories and reciprocal connections with many supra-tentorial association areas. The final architecture of cerebellar networks results from a complex, highly protracted, and continuous development from childhood to adulthood, leading to integration between short-distance connections and long-range extra-cerebellar circuits. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the anatomo-functional organization of the cerebellar connectome. We will focus on the maturation process of afferent and efferent neuronal circuitry, and the involvement of these networks in different aspects of neurocognitive processing. The final section will be devoted to identifying possible implications of this knowledge in neurosurgical practice, especially in the case of posterior fossa tumor resection, and to discuss reliable strategies to improve the quality of approaches while reducing postsurgical morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro De Benedictis
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Camilla Rossi-Espagnet
- Neuroradiology Unit, Imaging Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca de Palma
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Efisio Marras
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
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Giampiccolo D, Basaldella F, Badari A, Squintani GM, Cattaneo L, Sala F. Feasibility of cerebello-cortical stimulation for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring of cerebellar mutism. Childs Nerv Syst 2021; 37:1505-1514. [PMID: 33835202 PMCID: PMC8084839 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-021-05126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellar mutism can occur in a third of children undergoing cerebellar resections. Recent evidence proposes it may arise from uni- or bilateral damage of cerebellar efferents to the cortex along the cerebello-dento-thalamo-cortical pathway. At present, no neurophysiological procedure is available to monitor this pathway intraoperatively. Here, we specifically aimed at filling this gap. METHODS We assessed 10 patients undergoing posterior fossa surgery using a conditioning-test stimulus paradigm. Electrical conditioning stimuli (cStim) were delivered to the exposed cerebellar cortex at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 8-24 ms prior to transcranial electric stimulation of the motor cortex, which served as test stimulus (tStim). The variation of motor-evoked potentials (MEP) to cStim + tStim compared with tStim alone was taken as a measure of cerebello-cortical connectivity. RESULTS cStim alone did not produce any MEP. cStim preceding tStim produced a significant inhibition at 8 ms (p < 0.0001) compared with other ISIs when applied to the lobules IV-V-VI in the anterior cerebellum and the lobule VIIB in the posterior cerebellum. Mixed effects of decrease and increase in MEP amplitude were observed in these areas for longer ISIs. CONCLUSIONS The inhibition exerted by cStim at 8 ms on the motor cortex excitability is likely to be the product of activity along the cerebello-dento-thalamo-cortical pathway. We show that monitoring efferent cerebellar pathways to the motor cortex is feasible in intraoperative settings. This study has promising implications for pediatric posterior fossa surgery with the aim to preserve the cerebello-cortical pathways and thus prevent cerebellar mutism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Giampiccolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37124, Verona, Italy
| | - Federica Basaldella
- Intraoperative Neurophysiology Unit, Division of Neurology, University Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Badari
- Intraoperative Neurophysiology Unit, Division of Neurology, University Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Cattaneo
- CIMeC-Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesco Sala
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37124, Verona, Italy.
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