The value of intraoperative MRI for resection of functional pituitary adenomas-a critical assessment of a consecutive single-center series of 114 cases

Surgical management of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas: insights from a national cohort study

Objective

Skull base chordoma and chondrosarcoma are distinct sarcomas of the skull base but share significant therapeutic challenges due to their proximity to critical neurovascular structures, making surgical resection difficult. We sought to establish factors associated with outcome predictors in a national cohort of patients.

Methods and analysis

Data for all patients referred with a diagnosis of skull base chordoma or chondrosarcoma from April 2017 to December 2022 were obtained. We performed analyses of data pertaining to the first cohort of patients treated in the UK with proton beam therapy (PBT) to determine factors associated with obtaining gross total resection (GTR) and adequate clearance of the brainstem and optic apparatus.

Results

Of 230 patients with skull base chordoma or chondrosarcoma referred for PBT, 71% were accepted for PBT, with a wide regional variation between referring neurosurgical units (29%-93%). Of the first 75 consecutive patients treated with PBT, the only factor predictive of obtaining GTR was surgical resection at a unit with higher volumes of patients accepted for PBT (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.63, p=0.004). Use of intraoperative MRI (OR 4.84, 95% CI 1.21 to 27.83, p=0.04) and resection at a higher volume unit (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.64, p=0.013) were associated with increased rates of tumour clearance from the brainstem/optic apparatus.

Conclusions

Treatment at a higher volume centre was a key determinant of the optimal surgical outcome in this cohort. These data support the management of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas in higher volume centres where multidisciplinary experience can be accumulated.

Characteristics of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the pituitary gland in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery

PURPOSE

Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the pituitary gland (IIPD) are rare lesions often misdiagnosed preoperatively. Immediate surgery is indicated especially in cases of neurological impairment. However, (chronic) inflammatory processes can mimic other pituitary tumors, such as adenomas, and data on the preoperative diagnostic criteria for IIPD are sparse.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 1317 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery at our institution between March 2003 and January 2023. A total of 26 cases of histologically confirmed IIPD were identified. Patient records, laboratory parameters, and postoperative course were analyzed and compared with an age, sex, and tumor volume-matched control group of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

RESULTS

Pathology confirmed septic infection in ten cases, most commonly caused by bacteria (3/10) and fungi (2/10). In the aseptic group, lymphocytic hypophysitis (8/26) and granulomatous inflammation (3/26) were most frequently observed. Patients with IIPD commonly presented with endocrine and/or neurological dysfunction. No surgical mortality occurred. Preoperative radiographic findings (cystic/solid tumor mass, contrast enhancement) did not significantly differ between IIPD and adenomas. At follow-up, 13 patients required permanent hormone substitution.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, correct preoperative diagnosis of IIPD remains challenging, as neither radiographic findings nor preoperative laboratory workup unequivocally identify these lesions. Surgical treatment facilitates decompression of supra- and parasellar structures. Furthermore, this low-morbidity procedure enables the identification of pathogens or inflammatory diseases requiring targeted medical treatment, which is crucial for these patients. Establishing a correct diagnosis through surgery and histopathological confirmation thus remains of utmost importance.

Modified low-dose second window indocyanine green technique improves near-infrared fluorescence image-guided dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resection: A randomized control trial

Objective

Conventional second window indocyanine green (SWIG) technique has been widely attempted in near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging for intraoperative navigation of tumor radical resection. Nevertheless, the overuse of indocyanine green (ICG) led to an increased risk of drug lethal allergy and high medical cost. This prospective study was to explore clinical application of modified low-dose SWIG technique in guiding dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSPs) radical resection.

Method

Patients with DFSPs were randomly assigned to control and experimental group. The ICG was injected intravenously 24 h before surgery, at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg in the control group and 25 mg/patient in the experiment group, respectively. Intraoperative NIRF imaging included serial views of gross tumor, tumor bed and cross-sectional specimen.

Results

Although NIRF imaging of gross tumor and tumor bed in the experimental group demonstrated similar sensitivity and negative predictive value, the specificity and positive predictive value were obviously higher compared to control group. The tumor-to-background ratios of cross-sectional specimens in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.000). Data in both groups displayed that there was a positive correlation of tumor size in cross-sections between integrated histopathologic photomicrographs and NIRF imaging of specimen views (P = 0.000). NIRF imaging of cross-sectional specimens had a significant decrease in time cost, and an increase in the ability of examining more surgical margins (P = 0.000).

Conclusion

This is the first study to demonstrate that a low-dose SWIG technique could improve the accuracy of near-infrared fluorescence image-guided dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resection.

Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2100050174; date of registration: August 18, 2021 followed by “retrospectively registered”