A cohort study of CNS tumors in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1

PURPOSE

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type-1 (MEN1) is thought to increase the risk of meningioma and ependymoma. Hereby, we aimed to describe the frequency, the incidence and specific clinical and histological features of CNS tumors in the MEN1 population (except pituitary tumors).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The study population included patients harboring CNS tumors diagnosed with MEN1 syndrome after 1990 and followed-up in the French MEN1 national cohort. Standardized incidence rate (SIR) was calculated based on the French Gironde CNS tumors registry. Genomic analyses were performed on somatic DNA from 7 CNS tumors including meningiomas and ependymomas from MEN1 patients, then in 50 sporadic meningiomas and ependymomas.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine CNS tumors were found among the 1498 symptomatic patients (2%) (incidence=47.4/100'000 person-years; SIR=4.5), including 12 meningiomas (0.8%) (incidence=16.2/100'000; SIR=2.5), 8 ependymomas (0.5%) (incidence=10.8/100'000; SIR=17.6), 5 astrocytomas (0.3%) (incidence=6.7/100'000; SIR=5.8), and 4 schwannomas (0.3%) (incidence=5.4/100'000; SIR=12.7). Meningiomas in MEN1 patients were benign, mostly meningothelial, with 11 years earlier onset compared to the sporadic population and an F/M ratio of 1/1. Spinal and cranial ependymomas were mostly classified WHO grade 2. A biallelic MEN1 inactivation was observed in 4/5 ependymomas and 1/2 meningiomas from the MEN1 patients, whereas MEN1 deletion in one allele was present in respectively 3/41 and 0/9 sporadic meningiomas and ependymomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence of each CNS tumor was higher in the MEN1 population than in the French general population. Meningiomas and ependymomas should be considered part of the MEN1 syndrome, but somatic molecular data are missing to conclude for astrocytomas and schwannomas.

Safety and efficacy of frameless stereotactic robot-assisted intraparenchymal brain lesion biopsies versus image-guided biopsies: a bicentric comparative study

PURPOSE

User-friendly robotic assistance and image-guided tools have been developed in the past decades for intraparenchymal brain lesion biopsy. These two methods are gradually becoming well accepted and are performed at the discretion of the neurosurgical teams. However, only a few data comparing their effectiveness and safety are available.

METHODS

Population-based parallel cohorts were followed from two French university hospitals with different surgical methods and defined geographical catchment regions (September 2019 to September 2022). In center A, frameless robot-assisted stereotactic intraparenchymal brain lesion biopsies were performed, while image-guided intraparenchymal brain lesion biopsies were performed in center B. Pre-and postoperative clinical, radiological, and histomolecular features were retrospectively collected and compared.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty patients were included: 131 frameless robot-assisted stereotactic intraparenchymal brain lesion biopsies in center A and 119 image-guided biopsies in center B. The clinical, radiological, and histomolecular features were comparable between the two groups. The diagnostic yield (96.2% and 95.8% respectively; p = 1.000) and the overall postoperative complications rates (13% and 14%, respectively; p = 0.880) did not differ between the two groups. The mean duration of the surgical procedure was longer in the robot-assisted group (61.9 ± 25.3 min, range 23-150) than in the image-guided group (47.4 ± 11.8 min, range 25-81, p < 0.001). In the subgroup of patients with anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy administered preoperatively, the intracerebral hemorrhage > 10 mm on postoperative CT scan was higher in the image-guided group (36.8%) than in the robot-assisted group (5%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In our bicentric comparative study, robot-assisted stereotactic and image-guided biopsies have two main differences (shorter time but more frequent postoperative hematoma for image-guided biopsies); however, both techniques are demonstrated to be safe and efficient.

Microsurgery and Endovascular Therapy for Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Distal anterior cerebral aneurysm (DACA) represents 4% of intracranial aneurysms. Two treatment modalities are available: microsurgery and endovascular therapy (EVT).

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results between microsurgery and EVT in a modern French cohort.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective cohort study of 3 French neurosurgical units was carried out from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. All participants were adult patients who required treatment for a ruptured or unruptured DACA aneurysm.

RESULTS

A total of 69 patients were included; 16 patients (23.2%) were treated by microsurgery and 53 (76.8%) were treated by EVT. Thirty-one patients (44.9%) had ruptured aneurysms. The complication rate was low, with 1 death and 1 symptomatic ischemia. There was no difference in complications between microsurgery and EVT (P = 0.22). The number of retreatments was higher in EVT (15% vs. 0%) but not significantly (P = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

In the specific subgroup of DACA, both treatment modalities are effective in ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, with a low rate of complications. Retreatment may be more frequent in EVT but it does not lead to more complications.

Open thoracic cordotomy for intractable cancer pain: a how I do it

BACKGROUND

Some cancers of the lower extremity involve nerves and plexuses and can produce extreme drug-resistant noceptive pain. In these cases, open thoracic cordotomy can be proposed.

METHOD

This procedure involves disruption of the spinothalamic tract, which sustains nociceptive pathways. After placement in the prone position, selection of the side to be operated on (contralateral to the pain), and dura exposure, microsurgery is used to section the anterolateral spinal cord quadrant previously exposed by gently pulling on the dentate ligament.

CONCLUSION

Open thoracic cordotomy is a moderate invasive, safe, and effective option for the management of drug-resistant unilateral lower extremity cancer pain in well-selected patients.

Clipping Versus Coiling for Ruptured MCA Aneurysms Associated with Intracerebral Hematoma Requiring Surgical Evacuation

BACKGROUND

Ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm (MCAa) can lead to intracerebral hematoma, and surgical evacuation can be performed in these cases. MCAa can be treated by clipping or before by endovascular therapy (EVT). Our objective was to compare the impact on the functional outcome of MCAa in patients with intracerebral hematoma requiring evacuation.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study with nine French neurosurgical units from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020. All participants were adult patients who required evacuation of an intracerebral hematoma. We looked for risk factors for poor outcomes by comparing the baseline characteristics and treatments performed by using the 6-month modified Rankin scale score. Poor outcomes were defined by an modified Rankin scale score of 3-6.

RESULTS

A total of 162 patients were included. A total of 129 (79.6%) patients were treated by microsurgery, and 33 (20.4%) patients were treated by EVT. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor outcomes included hematoma volume, realization of a decompressive craniectomy, occurrence of procedure-related symptomatic cerebral ischemia, occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia, and EVT. In the propensity score matching analysis (n = 33 per group), poor outcomes were observed in 30% of the patients in the clipping group versus 76% in the EVT group (P < 0.001). These differences may have been related to a longer delay between hospital admission and hematoma evacuation in the EVT group.

CONCLUSIONS

In the specific subgroup of ruptured MCAa with intracerebral hematoma that requires surgical evacuation, clipping with concomitant hematoma evacuation could provide better functional outcomes than EVT followed by surgical evacuation.

Incidence and characteristics of pseudoprogression in IDH-mutant high-grade gliomas: A POLA network study

BACKGROUND

Incidence and characteristics of pseudoprogression in isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant high-grade gliomas (IDHmt HGG) remain to be specifically described.

METHODS

We analyzed pseudoprogression characteristics and explored the possibility of pseudoprogression misdiagnosis in IDHmt HGG patients, treated with radiotherapy (RT) (with or without chemotherapy [CT]), included in the French POLA network. Pseudoprogression was analyzed in patients with MRI available for review (reference cohort, n = 200). Pseudoprogression misdiagnosis was estimated in this cohort and in an independent cohort (control cohort, n = 543) based on progression-free survival before and after first progression.

RESULTS

In the reference cohort, 38 patients (19%) presented a pseudoprogression after a median time of 10.5 months after RT. Pseudoprogression characteristics were similar across IDHmt HGG subtypes. In most patients, it consisted of the appearance of one or several infracentimetric, asymptomatic, contrast-enhanced lesions occurring within 2 years after RT. The only factor associated with pseudoprogression occurrence was adjuvant PCV CT. Among patients considered as having a first true progression, 7 out of 41 (17%) in the reference cohort and 35 out of 203 (17%) in the control cohort were retrospectively suspected to have a misdiagnosed pseudoprogression. Patients with a misdiagnosed pseudoprogression were characterized by a time to event and an outcome similar to that of patients with a pseudoprogression but presented with larger and more symptomatic lesions.

CONCLUSION

In patients with an IDHmt HGG, pseudoprogression occurs later than in IDH-wildtype glioblastomas and seems not only frequent but also frequently misdiagnosed. Within the first 2 years after RT, the possibility of a pseudoprogression should be carefully considered.

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on neuro-oncology multidisciplinary tumor board in the pre-vaccine era: the Normandy experience

INTRODUCTION

The COVID19 pandemic had a strong impact on the healthcare system, particularly in oncology. Brain tumor are usually revealed by acute and life threatening symptoms. We wanted to evaluate the possible consequences of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 on the activity of neuro-oncology multidisciplinary tumor board in a Normandy region (France).

METHODS

A descriptive, retrospective, multicenter study was conducted in the four referent centers (two universitary hospitals and two cancer centers). The main objective was to compare the average number of neuro-oncology patients presented per multidisciplinary tumor board per week between a pre-COVID19 reference period (period 1 from December 2018 to December 2019) and the pre-vaccination period (period 2 from December 2019 to November 2020).

RESULTS

Across Normandy, 1540 cases were presented in neuro-oncology multidisciplinary tumor board in 2019 and 2020. No difference was observed between period 1 and 2: respectively 9.8 per week versus 10.7, P=0.36. The number of cases per week also did not significantly differ during the lockdown periods: 9.1/week versus 10.4 during the non-lockdown periods, P=0.26. The only difference observed was a higher proportion of tumor resection during the lockdown periods: 81.4% (n=79/174) versus 64.5% (n=408/1366), P=0.001.

CONCLUSION

The pre-vaccination era of the COVID19 pandemic did not impact the activity of neuro-oncology multidisciplinary tumor board in the Normandy region. The possible consequences in terms of public health (excess mortality) due to this tumor location should now be investigated.

Systematic Review of Meningiomas Revealed by Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhage: Clinicopathological Features, Outcomes, and Rebleeding Rate

BACKGROUND

Meningiomas are rarely revealed by an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Rebleeding occurrence rate and time of onset are unknown. Here, we performed a systematic review of the literature of meningiomas revealed by ICH.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected all meningiomas revealed by spontaneous ICH published between January 1980 and December 2021. We reported clinicopathological features of meningiomas revealed by ICH. We also estimated rebleeding rate and time to onset.

RESULTS

Ninety-two studies met all inclusion criteria, led to a total of 120 cases. The mean age was 56.3 years, with 66 (55%) female. Seventy-nine (66%) cases were conscious before surgery, 20 (17%) were in coma, and 17 (14%) were unconscious after deterioration. The most frequent bleeding type was subdural hemorrhage (N = 49, 41%) followed by intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) (N = 44, 37%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (N = 22, 18%), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (N = 5, 4%). IPH and hindbrain/ventricular locations are associated with poor outcomes (P = 0.031 and < 0.001, respectively). Among the 19 patients who did not undergo surgical resection of the meningioma, 14 (74%) experienced rebleeding with a median occurrence of 120 days (interquartile, [90; -]). Rebleeding occurs earlier if the type of bleeding is SAH or IVH and for hindbrain location (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

ICH is a rare presentation of meningiomas. Hindbrain and ventricular tumor location and IPH are associated with poor outcomes. Rebleeding rate is high and premature. It occurs earlier if the first bleeding was SAH or IVH and for hindbrain location.

Intracranial Solitary Fibrous Tumour Management: A French Multicentre Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Intracranial solitary fibrous tumour (iSFT) is an exceptional mesenchymal tumour with high recurrence rates. We aimed to analyse the clinical outcomes of newly diagnosed and recurrent iSFTs.

METHODS

We carried out a French retrospective multicentre (n = 16) study of histologically proven iSFT cases. Univariate and multivariate Cox models were used to estimate the prognosis value of the age, location, size, WHO grade, and surgical extent on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS).

RESULTS

Eighty-eight patients were included with a median age of 54.5 years. New iSFT cases were treated with gross tumour resection (GTR) (n = 75) or subtotal resection (STR) (n = 9) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) (n = 32, 57%). The median follow-up time was 7 years. The median OS, PFS, and LRFS were 13 years, 7 years, and 7 years, respectively. Forty-two patients experienced recurrence. Extracranial metastasis occurred in 16 patients. Median OS and PFS after the first recurrence were 6 years and 15.4 months, respectively. A higher histological grade was a prognosis factor for PFS (p = 0.04) and LRFS (p = 0.03). GTR influenced LRFS (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

GTR provided benefits as a first treatment for iSFTs. However, approximately 40% of patients experienced relapse, which remains a challenging state.

Natural Course and Prognosis of Primary Spinal Glioblastoma: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Primary spinal glioblastoma is extremely rare. The dramatic neurological deterioration and unresectability of primary spinal glioblastoma makes it a particularly disabling malignant neoplasm. Since it is a rare and heterogeneous disease, the assessment of prognostic factors remains limited.

METHODS

Primary spinal glioblastomas were identified from The French Brain Tumor Database and the Club de Neuro-Oncologie of the Société Française de Neurochirurgie retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years at diagnosis, spinal location, histopathological diagnosis of newly glioblastoma according to the 2016 World Health Organization classification, and surgical management between 2004 and 2016. Diagnosis was confirmed by a centralized neuropathological review. The primary outcome was overall survival. Therapeutic interventions and neurological outcomes were also collected.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients with an histopathologically confirmed primary spinal glioblastoma (median age 50.9 years) were included (27 centers). The median overall survival (OS) was 13.1 months (range 2.5-23.7) and the median progression-free survival was 5.9 months (range 1.6-10.2). In multivariable analyses using Cox model, ECOG PS at 0-1 was the only independent predictor of longer OS [Hazard Ratio: 0.13, 95%CI 0.02-0.801; p=0.02], whereas a Karnofsky PS score <60 [Hazard Ratio: 2.89, 95%CI 1.05-7.92; p=0.03] and a cervical anatomical location [Hazard Ratio: 4.14, 95%CI 1.32-12.98; p=0.01] were independent predictors of shorter OS. The ambulatory status (Frankel D-E) [Hazard Ratio: 0.38, 95%CI 0.07-1.985; p=0.250] was not an independent prognostic factor while the concomitant standard radiochemotherapy with temozolomide (Stupp protocol) [Hazard Ratio: 0.35, 95%CI 0.118-1.05; p=0.06] was at the limit of significance.

DISCUSSION

Preoperative ECOG PS, Karnofsky PS score and the location are independent predictors of overall survival of primary spinal glioblastomas in adults. Further analyses are required to capture the survival benefit of concomitant standard radiochemotherapy with temozolomide.

Impact of Decompressive Craniectomy on Hemorrhagic Transformation in Malignant Ischemic Stroke in Mice

BACKGROUND

Endovascular thrombectomy has changed the management of ischemic stroke. The reperfusion can however lead to a hemorrhagic transformation (HT). Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a surgical procedure used for malignant ischemic stroke. However, its efficacy was demonstrated before the era of endovascular thrombectomy trials. Here, we hypothesized that DC for ischemic stroke after thrombectomy could lead to a higher risk of HT. We thus evaluated this hypothesis in a mouse model of stroke induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) with or without mechanical reperfusion.

METHODS

Ninety mice subjected to MCAO were divided into 6 groups: permanent MCAO with or without DC; MCAO followed by a mechanical reperfusion with or without DC and MCAO with a mechanical reperfusion followed by r-tPA (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator)-induced reperfusion with or without DC. Mice were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging 24 hours after the MCAO to assess ischemic lesion volumes, and the rate, type, and volume of HTs.

RESULTS

The ischemic volume was higher in the 2 groups without reperfusion than in the 4 groups with reperfusion independently of r-tPA treatment and DC. The distribution of HT types was different between the 6 groups. The HT volumes and HT scores was smaller in the 2 groups without reperfusion and in the reperfusion group without r-tPA and without DC. In mice having reperfusion, the mean HT score was higher in mice who had DC without r-tPA (HT score 5; P=0.048) or with r-tPA (HT score 8; P=0.02), than in mice without DC (HT score 1).

CONCLUSIONS

DC for a malignant stroke, after reperfusion, corresponding to an endovascular thrombectomy failure, increases the risk of severe hemorrhagic transformations in a model of ischemic stroke in mice. This result support the need of clinical studies to evaluate the added value of DC at the era of endovascular thrombectomy.

Microsurgical DREZotomy for pain related to Pancoast-Tobias syndrome: how I do it?

BACKGROUND

Neuralgic pain related to Pancoast-Tobias syndrome can be difficult to treat. An invasive but effective option for management is open cervical DREZotomy.

METHOD

This procedure involves the interruption of the dorsal root entry zone (A delta and C fibers) that sustains the nociceptive pathways. After dura opening, the microsurgical steps are micro incisions of the pia mater under each dorsolateral rootlets and contiguous microcoagulations in the posterolateral sulcus downward to the posterior horn.

CONCLUSION

When properly performed in a well-selected patient, DREZotomy is a safe and effective procedure for treating devastating pain related to Pancoast-Tobias syndrome.

Percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia: a how I do it

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatments for trigeminal neuralgia may include percutaneous techniques including the balloon compression technique. We present here a simple, effective, and safe adaptation of the historical technique described by Mullan in 1978.

METHOD

Our procedure is performed in a bi-plane neuro-radiology room. During general anesthesia, 14-G needle is guided under radioscopy to foramen ovale. The 3-F embolectomy catheter is then inserted and inflated with contrast for a period of 2 min 15 s.

CONCLUSION

Our technique, performed entirely under bi-plane fluoroscopy, allows a quicker and more precise surgery and avoids errors in guiding the catheter that can result serious injury.

Surgery for glioblastomas in the elderly: an Association des Neuro-oncologues d’Expression Française (ANOCEF) trial

OBJECTIVE

The role of surgery in the treatment of malignant gliomas in the elderly is not settled. The authors conducted a randomized trial that compared tumor resection with biopsy only—both followed by standard therapy—in such patients.

METHODS

Patients ≥ 70 years of age with a Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score ≥ 50 and presenting with a radiological suspicion of operable glioblastoma (GBM) were randomly assigned between tumor resection and biopsy groups. Subsequently, they underwent standard radiotherapy during the first years of the trial (2008–2017), with the addition of adjunct therapy with temozolomide when this regimen became standard (2017–2019). The primary endpoint was survival, and secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination), autonomy (KPS), quality of life (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BN20), and perioperative morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Between 2008 and 2019, 107 patients from 9 centers were enrolled in the study; 101 were evaluable for analysis because a GBM was histologically confirmed (50 in the surgery arm and 51 in the biopsy arm). There was no statistically significant difference in median survival between the surgery (9.37 months) and the biopsy (8.96 months, p = 0.36) arms (adjusted HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.52–1.21, p = 0.28). However, the surgery group had an increased PFS (5.06 vs 4.02 months; p = 0.034) (adjusted HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32–0.78, p = 0.002). Less deterioration of quality of life and KPS score evolution than in the biopsy group was observed. Surgery was not associated with increased mortality or morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that debulking surgery is safe, and—compared to biopsy—is associated with a less severe deterioration of quality of life and autonomy, as well as a significant although modest improvement of PFS in elderly patients suffering from newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Although resection does not provide a significant survival benefit in the elderly, the authors believe that the risk/benefit analysis favors an attempt at optimal tumor resection in this population, provided there is careful preoperative geriatric evaluation.

Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02892708 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Endovascular treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations: clinical outcomes of patients included in the registry of a pragmatic randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

The role of endovascular treatment in the management of patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains uncertain. AVM embolization can be offered as stand-alone curative therapy or prior to surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) (pre-embolization). The Treatment of Brain AVMs Study (TOBAS) is an all-inclusive pragmatic study that comprises two randomized trials and multiple registries.

METHODS

Results from the TOBAS curative and pre-embolization registries are reported. The primary outcome for this report is death or dependency (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score > 2) at last follow-up. Secondary outcomes include angiographic results, perioperative serious adverse events (SAEs), and permanent treatment-related complications leading to an mRS score > 2.

RESULTS

From June 2014 to May 2021, 1010 patients were recruited in TOBAS. Embolization was chosen as the primary curative treatment for 116 patients and pre-embolization prior to surgery or SRS for 92 patients. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were available in 106 (91%) of 116 and 77 (84%) of 92 patients, respectively. In the curative embolization registry, 70% of AVMs were ruptured, and 62% were low-grade AVMs (Spetzler-Martin grade I or II), while the pre-embolization registry had 70% ruptured AVMs and 58% low-grade AVMs. The primary outcome of death or disability (mRS score > 2) occurred in 15 (14%, 95% CI 8%–22%) of the 106 patients in the curative embolization registry (4 [12%, 95% CI 5%–28%] of 32 unruptured AVMs and 11 [15%, 95% CI 8%–25%] of 74 ruptured AVMs) and 9 (12%, 95% CI 6%–21%) of the 77 patients in the pre-embolization registry (4 [17%, 95% CI 7%–37%] of 23 unruptured AVMs and 5 [9%, 95% CI 4%–20%] of 54 ruptured AVMs) at 2 years. Embolization alone was confirmed to occlude the AVM in 32 (30%, 95% CI 21%–40%) of the 106 curative attempts and in 9 (12%, 95% CI 6%–21%) of 77 patients in the pre-embolization registry. SAEs occurred in 28 of the 106 attempted curative patients (26%, 95% CI 18%–35%, including 21 new symptomatic hemorrhages [20%, 95% CI 13%–29%]). Five of the new hemorrhages were in previously unruptured AVMs (n = 32; 16%, 95% CI 5%–33%). Of the 77 pre-embolization patients, 18 had SAEs (23%, 95% CI 15%–34%), including 12 new symptomatic hemorrhages [16%, 95% CI 9%–26%]). Three of the hemorrhages were in previously unruptured AVMs (3/23; 13%, 95% CI 3%–34%).

CONCLUSIONS

Embolization as a curative treatment for brain AVMs was often incomplete. Hemorrhagic complications were frequent, even when the specified intent was pre-embolization before surgery or SRS. Because the role of endovascular treatment remains uncertain, it should preferably, when possible, be offered in the context of a randomized trial.

Microsurgical clipping of middle cerebral artery aneurysms: complications and risk factors for complications

OBJECTIVE

Middle cerebral artery aneurysms (MCAas) are considered good candidates for microsurgery. The objective was to evaluate the risk of complications and the risk factors for microsurgical treatment of MCAas to better define the indications for microsurgery.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study from three tertiary neurosurgical units from January 2013 to May 2020. We evaluated the frequency of complications and searched for the risk factors for complications after microsurgery. Complications were defined as a composite criterion with the presence of one of the following: procedural-related death, symptomatic cerebral ischemia, impossible exclusion, incomplete exclusion, or (re)bleeding of the treated aneurysm and symptomatic surgical site hematoma.

RESULTS

292 MCAas were treated. A total of 29 (9.9%) had a complication: symptomatic cerebral ischemia: 4.8%, aneurysm rebleeding: 0.3%, surgical site hematoma: 1.0%, impossible exclusion: 0.3%, and incomplete exclusion: 4.1%. Severe complications, defined as mRs score >4 at 3 months, were infrequent and occurred in 7/292 patients (2.4%). In multivariate analysis, risk factors were: ruptured aneurysm, larger maximum aneurysm size, larger neck size and arterial branches passing less than <1 mm from the aneurysm's neck or dome.

CONCLUSIONS

Microsurgical management of MCA aneurysms can be performed with very low morbidity rates. In some cases, at least for factors that do not present a significant difficulty for endovascular therapy, such as the presence of an "en passage" artery or ruptured aneurysm, endovascular therapy EVT may be considered at the same level as the clip.

Predictive Factors of Favorable Visual Outcomes After Surgery of Tuberculum Sellae Meningiomas: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Because of their proximity to the visual structures, tuberculum sellae meningiomas are frequently revealed by ophthalmologic impairment. The goal of surgery is gross total resection and improvement of visual function. The purpose of the present study was to identify the predictors of favorable visual outcomes after surgery of tuberculum sellae meningioma.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected tuberculum sellae meningiomas treated at 2 neurosurgical centers from 2010 to 2020. We collected the clinical, imaging and surgical data and analyzed their effects on the visual outcome. A favorable visual outcome was defined as an increase in visual acuity of ≥0.2 point and/or an increase of >25% of the visual field or complete recovery.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients were included. At 4 months after surgery, 30 patients (60%) had experienced visual improvement. The predictors of a favorable visual outcome were a symptom duration of <6 months, preoperative visual acuity >0.5, a smaller tumor size, and tumor with T2-weighted/fluid attenuated inversion recovery hypersignal on magnetic resonance imaging. During surgery, a soft tumor and a clear brain-tumor interface were associated with favorable visual outcomes. Preoperative optic coherence tomography measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness >80 μM and ganglion cell complex thickness >70 μM were also associated with a better ophthalmologic outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In tuberculum sellae meningiomas, rapid surgical treatment must be performed to optimize vision improvement. A hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted/fluid attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging and minor vision impairment at the initial ophthalmologic presentation might give hope for a favorable outcome. Performing optic coherence tomography measurements before surgery could clarify patients' expectations regarding their recovery.

Surgical management of lumbar spinal stenosis in patients over 80: is there an increased risk?

Management of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) represents the first cause of spinal surgery for the elderly and will increase with the aging population. Although the surgery improves quality of life, the procedure involves anaesthetic and operative risks. The aim of this study was to assess whether the postoperative complication rate was higher for elderly patients and to find confounding factors. We conducted a retrospective study including all LSS surgeries between 2012 and 2020 at the University Hospital of Caen. We compared two populations opposing patients aged over 80 with others. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a severe complication (SC). Minor complications were the secondary endpoint. Comorbidities, history of lumbar spine surgery and surgical characteristics were recorded. Nine hundred ninety-six patients undergoing surgery for degenerative LSS were identified. Patients over 80 were significantly affected by additional comorbidities: hypertension, heart diseases, higher age-adjusted comorbidity Charlson score, ASA score and use of anticoagulants. Knee-chest position was preferred for younger patients. Older patients underwent a more extensive decompression and had more incidental durotomies. Of the patients, 5.2% presented SC. Age over 80 did not appear to be a significant risk factor for SC, but minor complications increased. Multivariate analysis showed that heart diseases, history of laminectomy, AA-CCI and accidental durotomies were independent risk factors for SC. Surgical management for lumbar spinal stenosis is not associated to a higher rate of severe complications for patients over 80 years of age. However, preoperative risk factors should be investigated to warn the elderly patients that the complication risk is increased although an optimal preparation is the way to avoid them.

Medicosurgical management of deep wound infections after thoracolumbar instrumentation: risk factors of poor outcomes

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) after thoracolumbar osteosynthesis is a common complication. Its management relies on surgical revision and antibiotic therapy, but treatment failure is not uncommon. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of SSI management failure and its risk factors.

METHODS

A retrospective study of patients hospitalized from 2011 to 2019 at the University Hospital of Caen was carried out. The infection rate and the time to onset of failure were assessed over a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Treatment failure was defined as the occurrence of a new intervention in the spine in the year following the end of antibiotic therapy, the establishment of long-term suppressive antibiotic therapy, or death from any cause within 1 year of the end of antibiotic therapy. We compared the treatment failure group with the treatment success group to determine risk factors for treatment failure.

RESULTS

A total of 2881 patients underwent surgery during the study period, and 92 developed an SSI, corresponding to an SSI rate of 3.19%. Thirty-six percent of the patients with an SSI presented treatment failure. The median time to failure was 31 days. On multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus was identified as a risk factor for treatment failure, whereas prolonged postoperative drainage for 4 to 5 days was a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of failures was significant, and failure occurred mainly during the early phase. To decrease the risk of treatment failure, prolonged duration of postoperative drainage seems to be helpful. Additionally, as diabetes is a risk factor for treatment failure, good control of glycemia in these patients might impact their outcomes.

Bumetanide lowers acute hydrocephalus in a rat model of subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can lead to acute hydrocephalus (AH). AH pathophysiology is classically attributed to an obstruction of the arachnoid granulations by blood. Recent findings in rodents suggest that after intraventricular hemorrhage, AH is related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypersecretion by the choroid plexus (CP), as it can be reduced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of bumetanide.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we investigated if and how CSF hypersecretion and/or CSF outflow disorders contribute to post-SAH hydrocephalus.

METHODS

Ninety-four Wistar rats were used. SAH was induced by the endovascular perforation technique. The presence of AH was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and rats with AH were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control group, superior sagittal sinus (SSS) thrombosis to block CSF reabsorption, ICV injection of saline, and ICV injection of bumetanide to decrease CSF secretion. Clinical outcome was evaluated with a neuroscore. A second MRI was performed 24 h later to evaluate the ventricular volume.

RESULTS

Fifty percent of rats that survived SAH induction had AH. Their ventricular volume correlated well to the functional outcome after 24 h (r = 0.803). In rats with AH, 24 h later, ventricular volume remained equally increased in the absence of any further procedure. Similarly, ICV injection of saline or SSS thrombosis had no impact on the ventricular volume. However, ICV injection of bumetanide reduced AH by 35.9% (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

In rodents, post-SAH hydrocephalus is may be due to hypersecretion of CSF by the CP, as it is limited by ICV injection of bumetanide. However, we cannot exclude other mechanisms involved in post-SAH acute hydrocephalus.

Overt speech critically changes lateralization index and did not allow determination of hemispheric dominance for language: an fMRI study

Background

Pre-surgical mapping of language using functional MRI aimed principally to determine the dominant hemisphere. This mapping is currently performed using covert linguistic task in way to avoid motion artefacts potentially biasing the results. However, overt task is closer to natural speaking, allows a control on the performance of the task, and may be easier to perform for stressed patients and children. However, overt task, by activating phonological areas on both hemispheres and areas involved in pitch prosody control in the non-dominant hemisphere, is expected to modify the determination of the dominant hemisphere by the calculation of the lateralization index (LI).

Objective

Here, we analyzed the modifications in the LI and the interactions between cognitive networks during covert and overt speech task.

Methods

Thirty-three volunteers participated in this study, all but four were right-handed. They performed three functional sessions consisting of (1) covert and (2) overt generation of a short sentence semantically linked with an audibly presented word, from which we estimated the “Covert” and “Overt” contrasts, and a (3) resting-state session. The resting-state session was submitted to spatial independent component analysis to identify language network at rest (LANG), cingulo-opercular network (CO), and ventral attention network (VAN). The LI was calculated using the bootstrapping method.

Results

The LI of the LANG was the most left-lateralized (0.66 ± 0.38). The LI shifted from a moderate leftward lateralization for the Covert contrast (0.32 ± 0.38) to a right lateralization for the Overt contrast (− 0.13 ± 0.30). The LI significantly differed from each other. This rightward shift was due to the recruitment of right hemispheric temporal areas together with the nodes of the CO.

Conclusion

Analyzing the overt speech by fMRI allowed improvement in the physiological knowledge regarding the coordinated activity of the intrinsic connectivity networks. However, the rightward shift of the LI in this condition did not provide the basic information on the hemispheric language dominance. Overt linguistic task cannot be recommended for clinical purpose when determining hemispheric dominance for language.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12868-021-00671-y.

An updated model of hydrocephalus in sheep to evaluate the performance of a device for ambulatory wireless monitoring of cerebral pressure through shunts

BACKGROUND

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion by shunts is the most common surgical treatment for hydrocephalus. Though effective, shunts are associated with risk of dysfunction leading to multiple surgical revisions, affecting patient quality-of-life and incurring high healthcare costs. There is a need for ambulatory monitoring systems for life-long assessment of shunt status. The present study aimed to develop a preclinical model assessing the feasibility of our wireless device for continuous monitoring of cerebral pressure in shunts.

METHODS

We first adapted a previous hydrocephalus model in sheep, which used an intracisternal kaolin injection. Seven animals were used to establish the model, and 1 sheep with naturally dilated ventricles was used as control. Hydrocephalus was confirmed by clinical examination and brain imaging before inserting the ventriculoperitoneal shunts and the monitoring device allowing continuous measurement of the pressure through the shunt for a few days in 3 sheep. An external ventricular drain was used as gold-standard.

RESULTS

Our results showed that a reduction in kaolin dose associated to postoperative management was crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in the model. Ventriculomegaly was confirmed by imaging 4 days after injection of 75 mg kaolin into the cisterna magna. For the implanted sheep, recordings revealed high sensitivity of our sensor in detecting fluctuations in cerebral pressure compared to conventional measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

This proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of this preclinical model for testing new shunt devices.

PL03.1.A Surgery for glioblastomas in the elderly: an ANOCEF trial (CSA)

BACKGROUND

The role of surgery for the treatment of malignant gliomas in patients 70 years of age or older is unsettled. We conducted a randomized trial that compared surgical resection of the tumor and biopsy only, both followed by standard therapy, in such patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients aged 70 years and older, with a KPS of at least 50, presenting with a radiological suspicion of an operable glioblastoma (GBM) were randomly assigned between tumor resection and biopsy. Subsequently, they underwent standard radiotherapy during the first years of the trial (2008–2017), with the adjunction of concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide when this regimen became standard (2017–2019). The primary end point was survival; secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), cognitive status (MMS), autonomy (KPS), quality of life (EORTC QLQ C30 and BN20), and perioperative morbidity/ mortality.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2019, 107 patients from 9 centers were enrolled in the study, of whom 101 were evaluable for analysis because the diagnosis of GBM was histologically confirmed (50 patients in the “surgery” arm and 51 patients in the “biopsy” arm). There was no statistically significant difference of median survival between the “surgery” arm (9.37 mo) and the “biopsy” arms (8.96 mo, p=0.36). However, the surgery group had increased PFS (5.06 mo vs 4.02 mo; p=0.034; p=0.002 on multivariate analysis) and better QOL (e.g. physical and cognitive functioning, motor dysfunction, fatigue) and KPS score evolution as compared to the “biopsy” group. Surgery was not associated with increased mortality or morbidity.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that optimal debulking surgery does not provide a significant survival benefit in elderly patients suffering from newly diagnosed malignant glioma, but resection improves QOL and autonomy with a significant though modest improvement of PFS.

Retreatment of previously treated intracranial aneurysm: Procedural complications and risk factors for complications

OBJECTIVE

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a frequent vascular malformation that can be managed by endovascular treatment (EVT) or microsurgery. A previously treated IA can recanalize, which may require further treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate procedural complications related to IA retreatment and their risk factors.

METHODS

All patients retreated for IA between 2007 and 2017 in 4 hospitals were included. We retrospectively reviewed the frequency of procedural complications of IA retreatment, defined as death or≥1-point increase in modified Rankin score 24h after the procedure. We then screened for risk factors of procedural complications by comparing the characteristics of patients with and without complications.

RESULTS

During the inclusion period, 4,997 IAs were treated in our 4 institutions. Of these, 237 (4.7%) were retreated. 29 (12.2%) had≥1 procedural complication. However, severe complications, defined as death or dependency at 1 month, occurred only in 3 patients (1.3%). The only risk factor for complications was microsurgical clipping as retreatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Procedural complications during IA retreatment were frequent but, in most cases, retreatment did not lead to death or severe disability. The only risk factor for complications of IA retreatment was clipping as retreatment. However, the design of the study did not allow any conclusion to be drawn as to the optimal means of aneurysm retreatment, and further studies are needed.

Intracranial aneurysms in pediatric population: a two-center audit

OBJECTIVE

Intracranial aneurysms (IA) in children are rare, accounting for less than 5% of all IA. Due to their scarcity, the epidemiology is poorly understood and differs from adults in term of clinical presentation, size, location, and origin. Consequently, the treatment strategies are specific and cannot be only based on data from adult series. The aim of our study was to report the characteristics, management, and outcomes of children treated for IA in two university hospitals located in Normandy (France) over the last 17 years and to perform a literature review of this rare pathology.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 18 consecutive children (< 18 years old) admitted with cerebral aneurysm treated in two neurosurgery departments in Normandy, from 2001 to 2018. Computerized tomography and cerebral angiography established the diagnosis. Both endovascular and surgical procedures were discussed in all cases. Data focused on clinical condition at admission, characteristics of the IA, choice of the treatment modalities, and complications. The outcome at follow-up is based on Glasgow outcomes scale (GOS) at 1 year.

RESULTS

During the study period, 18 children (mean age: 12.6 years; sex ratio male/female: 2.3) were admitted with 21 IA. Aneurysms had a mean size of 13.6 mm with 4 giant aneurysms and were mostly located in the anterior circulation (16/21). Clinical presentations at onset were sudden symptoms related to a subarachnoid hemorrhage in 13 patients, headaches in 4 patients with giant aneurysm, and asymptomatic in one patient. Among the 13 patients with ruptured IA, 6 presented in poor preoperative condition (Hunt and Hess Grade ≥ 4). Treatment modalities consisted in embolization in 9 patients and surgery in 9 patients including 2 by-pass surgeries in fusiform aneurysms. Complications were similar in the two groups, but two cases of recanalization were observed in the endovascular group. At 1 year of follow-up, 14 children were in good condition (GOS Score > 4) and one died. Three children presented associated IA treated by the same technique as initial aneurysm.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric aneurysm is a different pathology compared with adults, occurring more frequently in male population with a higher proportion of giant aneurysms and aneurysms located in the internal carotid bifurcation. The use of endovascular techniques has progressed in the last years, but surgery was proposed for half of our population.

Adult brainstem glioma presenting with isolated persistent hemifacial spasm or facial nerve palsy

OBJECT

Adult brainstem gliomas are a rare group of heterogeneous brain tumors. Classical clinical presentation includes progressive impairment of cranial nerves associated with long tract signs. The prognosis and response to treatment are poor; nevertheless, some patients do have a long survival. The objective of this study was to describe a series of patients with an isolated persistent hemifacial spasm and/or facial nerve palsy as the presenting symptom of a brainstem glioma.

METHODS

Fourteen patients from 3 French hospitals (Paris, Caen, Lille) were included. Clinical and radiological features and overall survival were retrospectively analyzed. A review of the literature of similar cases was performed.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis was 35 years (range 19-57 years). Mean duration of facial nerve involvement before diagnosis was 17 months (range 1-48 months). Tumors were characterized on MRI by a lateralized location in the pons, a T1-weighted hyposignal, a T2-weighted hypersignal and no contrast enhancement after Gadolinium injection except for 2 cases. Biopsies were performed in 10 cases and showed 8 low-grade and 2 high-grade gliomas. All the patients were initially treated with radiotherapy and 6 patients with chemotherapy after progression. Eleven patients died from tumor progression. Median survival time was 90 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult brainstem gliomas revealed by a progressive isolated involvement of the facial nerve seem to have particular clinico-radiological features of slow progressive tumors and may be associated with long patient survival.

What is the role of neurosurgeons in the current management of intracranial aneurysm in France? An analysis of professional practices

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational survey-based study.

INTRODUCTION

In France, intracranial aneurysm (IA) patients are managed by neurosurgeons and by interventional neuroradiologists. The growth of endovascular treatment led us to reflect on the role of neurosurgeons in the management of patients with IA. The present study aimed to highlight the current organization of IA management in France.

METHOD

A 60-question survey was sent to the neurosurgeons in 34 hospitals managing IA patients. Thirty-three questions dealt with standards of care, follow-up procedures and the involvement of the specific specialist.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven centers (79.4%) responded to the survey. A Vascular Multidisciplinary Discussion Team was organized, including both surgeons and neuroradiologists, in 92% of responding centers. There were department protocols in 66% of centers, a local registry in 33% and clinical trials in IA in 60%. Patients with unruptured IA were first seen by a neurosurgeon or by an interventional neuroradiologist, with different practices. For ruptured IA, the neurosurgeons were contacted first in 93% of cases, and were systematically involved in initial intensive care unit management. The patients were hospitalized in the neurosurgery department in 89% of the centers. The neurosurgeons took care of initial follow-up in 85% of the centers, and of lifetime follow-up in 36%. In most centers, radiological monitoring of IA was based on MRI angiography for patients who were embolized or under surveillance, and on CT angiography after microsurgery.

CONCLUSION

Despite the growth of endovascular treatments, the present survey and the literature highlight a major role of neurosurgeons in treatment, follow-up and care coordination.

Decreased number of deaths related to severe traumatic brain injury in intensive care unit during the first lockdown in Normandy: at least one positive side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to severe containment measures to protect the population in France. The first lockdown modified daily living and could have led to a decrease in the frequency of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the present study, we compared the frequency and severity of severe TBI before and during the first containment in Normandy.

Methods

We included all patients admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe TBI in the two tertiary neurosurgical trauma centres of Normandy during the first lockdown. The year before the containment served as control. The primary outcome was the number of patients admitted per week in ICU. We compared the demographic characteristics, TBI mechanisms, CT scan, surgical procedure, and mortality rate.

Results

The incidence of admissions for severe TBI in Normandy decreased by 33% during the containment. The aetiology of TBI significantly changed during the containment: there were less traffic road accidents and more TBI related to alcohol consumption. Patients with severe TBI during the containment had a better prognosis according to the impact score (p=0.04). We observed a significant decrease in the rate of short-term mortality related to severe TBI during the period of lockdown (p=0.02).

Conclusions

Containment related to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a modification of the mechanisms of severe TBI in Normandy, which was associated with a decline in the rate of short-term death in intensive unit care.

Rate of Rebleed and Retreatment of Previously Treated Intracranial Aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) can be treated through endovascular treatment (EVT) or microsurgery (MS). Treated IAs can recanalize, which can lead to rupture or retreatment.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to evaluate the natural history of previously treated IA, by evaluating the risk of rupture and the risk of retreatment.

METHODS

All patients treated for an IA between 2007 and 2017 in 4 hospitals were included. The rate of (recurrent) hemorrhage and the rate of prophylactic retreatment were retrospectively evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank tests was used to compare the rates of rupture or retreatment. Patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms were separated, and we compared the risk of retreatment between EVT and the surgical treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 4997 IAs were included in the study, corresponding to 20,489 patient-years. Overall, 28 (0.6%) aneurysms that had been previously treated demonstrated hemorrhage. Moreover, 237 (4.7%) aneurysms were retreated for recanalization without hemorrhage. The rate of retreatment was higher in the EVT-treated IAs as compared with the MS-treated IAs (LogRank: P < 0.0001) and higher in the previously ruptured IAs versus unruptured IAs (LogRank: P < 0.0001). However, the rate of posttreatment hemorrhage/IA rupture was similar for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of IA retreatment is low; however, the rate of hemorrhage/rupture from treated IAs is even lower. A higher rate of retreatment was noted in EVT-treated IAs versus MS-treated IAs and in ruptured IAs versus unruptured IAs; however, the rate of hemorrhage or rerupture was comparable between the groups.

Management of giant presacral schwannoma. Clinical series and literature review

PURPOSE

Presacral schwannomas are rare tumors. Due to their benign nature and slow growth, these tumors are often giant and become difficult to treat. Their removal is a surgical challenge with different strategies reported in the literature. This study presents the consecutives cases of presacral schwannomas operated on in our institution, our surgical strategy and literature review.

METHODS

This retrospective study includes all consecutive patients operated on for a pre-sacral schwannoma in our department between 2006 and 2019, i.e. 6 patients. We report clinical features, pre and post-operative imaging, surgical data and post-operative outcomes.

RESULTS

All patients had symptoms before surgery (constipation, dysuria, radicular or lower back pain) with an average duration of 7.4 months. All patients underwent an MRI and a CT scan before the surgery. Five patients had type III schwannoma according to Klimo classification and one patient had a type II. The average size was 504,9 cm³ (range 53,1-1495,4). All the patients were operated on by an anterior approach in a double team with an mean duration of 246 min. Intraoperative bleeding was less than 500 ml for 4 patients, 2 patients had significant bleeding (2700 and 2900 mL). Excision was total or subtotal in all cases. One patient had an intraoperative complication (air embolism). Follow up at 3 months was excellent with a disappearance of symptoms for all patients except one patient who retained constipation. One patient had a late complication (bowel obstruction due to tissue adhesions). At last follow-up after phone interview, no patient had clinical symptoms that could suggest a recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The anterior approach with a double surgical team is a great option for the treatment of presacral schwannoma. Combined with adequate preoperative imaging and intraoperative stimulation, it reduces the risk of intra and postoperative complications.

Multimodal management of ruptured cerebral micro-arteriovenous malformations: A retrospective series of 19 cases and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Micro-arteriovenous malformations (micro-AVMs) are defined as AVMs just visible on angiography with a nidus size between 0.5 and 1cm. Their principal manifestation is intracranial hemorrhage and their diagnosis and therapeutic management are still unclear.

METHODS

The aim of our work was to show the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of ruptured cerebral micro-AVMs in a retrospective cohort study of 19 patients and a systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

We obtained a total of 20 micro-AVMs in 19 patients. The mean age was 47.3 years. Clinical presentation was acute bleeding. The mean volume of hematoma was 12.9 mm³ (0 - 60.4), with topographic distribution as follows: 64% cortical with supratentorial bleeding, 26% deep, and 10% in the posterior fossa. Among the 20 micro-AVMs of the series, 11 (55%) had endovascular management, 6 (30%) had surgical treatment and 3 (15%) had GK radiosurgery alone. All of our patients have been cured at the end of the follow up without re-permeabilization. In our series, clinical outcome showed good recovery with a mean score of 4.6 on Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). In the literature, 88% of patients had a GOS of 4 or 5.

DISCUSSION

Intracerebral hematoma (ICH) was the main clinical manifestation. In the case of negative initial angiographic assessment, patients must have supraselective angiographic exploration. In the case of conservative treatment of hematoma, endovascular obliteration and microsurgical exclusion seems to be reasonable therapeutic options, according to our observations.

Surgical Site Infections after glioblastoma surgery: results of a multicentric retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The effects of surgical site infections (SSI) after glioblastoma surgery on patient outcomes are understudied. The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to evaluate the impact of SSI on the survival of glioblastoma patients.

METHODS

Data from SSI cases after glioblastoma surgeries between 2009 and 2016 were collected from 14 French neurosurgical centers. Collected data included patient demographics, previous medical history, risk factors, details of the surgical procedure, radiotherapy/chemotherapy, infection characteristics, and infection management. Similar data were collected from gender- and age-paired control individuals.

RESULTS

We used the medical records of 77 SSI patients and 58 control individuals. 13 were excluded. Our analyses included data from 64 SSI cases and 58 non-infected glioblastoma patients. Infections occurred after surgery for primary tumors in 38 cases (group I) and after surgery for a recurrent tumor in 26 cases (group II). Median survival was 381, 633, and 547 days in patients of group I, group II, and the control group, respectively. Patients in group I had significantly shorter survival compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). The one-year survival rate of patients who developed infections after surgery for primary tumors was 50%. Additionally, we found that SSIs led to postoperative treatment discontinuation in 30% of the patients.

DISCUSSION

Our findings highlighted the severity of SSIs after glioblastoma surgery, as they significantly affect patient survival. The establishment of preventive measures, as well as guidelines for the management of SSIs, is of high clinical importance.

Overt speech feasibility using continuous functional magnetic resonance imaging: Isolation of areas involved in phonology and prosody

To avoid motion artifacts, almost all speech-related functional magnetic resonance imagings (fMRIs) are performed covertly to detect language activations. This method may be difficult to execute, especially by patients with brain tumors, and does not allow the identification of phonological areas. Here, we aimed to evaluate overt task feasibility. Thirty-three volunteers participated in this study. They performed two functional sessions of covert and overt generation of a short sentence semantically linked with a word. Three main contrasts were performed: Covert and Overt for the isolation of language-activated areas, and Overt > Covert for the isolation of the motor cortical activation of speech. fMRI data preprocessing was performed with and without unwarping, and with and without regression of movement parameters as confounding variables. All types of results were compared to each other. For the Overt contrast, Dice coefficients showed strong overlap between each pair of types of results: 0.98 for the pair with and without unwarping, and 0.9 for the pair with and without movement parameter regression. The Overt > Covert contrast allowed isolation of motor laryngeal activations with high statistical reliability and revealed the right-lateralized temporal activity related to acoustic feedback. Overt speaking during magnetic resonance imaging induced few artifacts and did not significantly affect the results, allowing the identification of areas involved in primary motor control and prosodic regulation of speech. Unwarping and motion artifact regression in the postprocessing step, seem to not be necessary. Changes in lateralization of cortical activity by overt speech shall be explored before using these tasks for presurgical mapping.

How Should we Use Multicolumn Spinal Cord Stimulation to Optimize Back Pain Spatial Neural Targeting? A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial (ESTIMET Study)

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have highlighted multicolumn spinal cord stimulation (SCS) efficacy, hypothesizing that optimized spatial neural targeting provided by new-generation SCS lead design or its multicolumn programming abilities could represent an opportunity to better address chronic back pain (BP).

OBJECTIVE

To compare multicolumn vs. monocolumn programming on clinical outcomes of refractory postoperative chronic BP patients implanted with SCS using multicolumn surgical lead.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve centers included 115 patients in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. After randomization, leads were programmed using only one or several columns. The primary outcome was change in BP visual analogic scale (VAS) at six months. All patients were then programmed using the full potential of the lead up until 12-months follow-up.

RESULTS

At six months, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes whether the SCS was programmed using a mono or a multicolumn program. At 12 months, in all patients having been receiving multicolumn SCS for at least six months (n = 97), VAS decreases were significant for global pain (45.1%), leg pain (55.8%), and BP (41.5%) compared with baseline (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The ESTIMET study confirms the significant benefit experienced on chronic BP by patients implanted with multicolumn SCS, independently from multicolumn lead programming. These good clinical outcomes might result from the specific architecture of the multicolumn lead, giving the opportunity to select initially the best column on a multicolumn grid and to optimize neural targeting with low-energy requirements. However, involving more columns than one does not appear necessary, once initial spatial targeting of the "sweet spot" has been achieved. Our findings suggest that this spatial concept could also be transposed to cylindrical leads, which have drastically improved their capability to shape the electrical field, and might be combined with temporal resolution using SCS new modalities.

Syringomyelia and hydromyelia: Current understanding and neurosurgical management

Syringomyelia is a rare disorder in which a fluid-filled cyst forms within the spinal cord, resulting in myelopathy. Meanwhile, the abnormal dilatation of the central canal is referred to as hydromyelia or slit-like syrinx. The most prevailing classification is based on anatomical features and pathogeny rather than pathophysiological mechanisms. It is usual to distinguish foraminal syringomyelia related mainly to abnormalities at the craniocervical junction, non-foraminal syringomyelia dealing with any cause of arachnoiditis (infection, inflammation, trauma…) and more rarely syringomyelia associated with intramedullary tumors. Although many pathophysiological theories have been argued over time, the prevailing one is that disturbances in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the sub-arachnoid spaces disrupt flow velocity leading to the syrinx. Symptoms of paralysis, sensory loss and chronic pain commonly develop during the third/fourth decades of life. The natural history of syringomyelia is typically one of gradual, stepwise neurological deterioration extending over many years. Diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including excellent morphological sequences (T1-, T2-, FLAIR-, T2*-, enhanced T1-) and dynamic MRI with careful study of CSF velocity (CISS, cine-MR sequences). Surgical management is at first dedicated to treat the cause of the syringomyelia, mainly to re-establish a physiological CSF pathway in the subarachnoid spaces. Mostly, the surgical goal is to enlarge the craniocervical junction with duraplasty. Other surgical strategies such as arachnoidolysis or shunt procedures are performed based on the pathogenic mechanisms or as second-line treatment. Medical treatments are also necessary as chronic pain is the main long-lasting symptom. As evolutive syringomyelia is a severe disease with a high impact on quality of life, it is recommended to treat without delay. There is no evidence for surgery for incidental asymptomatic syringomyelia or hydromyelia. Finally, syringomyelia associated with intramedullary tumors resolves spontaneously after tumor resection. Syringomyelia is a rare disease, which requires a dedicated multidisciplinary approach, emphasizing the need for a nationwide scientific organization so as to offer optimal care to the patient.

Cranioplasty Reverses Dysfunction of the Solutes Distribution in the Brain Parenchyma After Decompressive Craniectomy

Background

Solutes distribution by the intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fluxes along perivascular spaces and through interstitial fluid (ISF) play a key role in the clearance of brain metabolites, with essential functions in maintaining brain homeostasis.

Objective

To investigate the impact of decompressive craniectomy (DC) and cranioplasty (CP) on the efficacy of solutes distribution by the intracranial CSF and ISF flux.

Methods

Mice were allocated in 3 groups: sham surgery, DC, and DC followed by CP. The solutes distribution in the brain parenchyma was assessed using T1 magnetic resonance imaging after injection of DOTA-Gadolinium in the cisterna magna. This evaluation was performed at an early time point following DC (after 2 d) and at a later time point (after 15 d). We evaluated the solutes distribution in the whole brain and in the region underneath the DC area.

Results

Our results demonstrate that the global solutes distribution in the brain parenchyma is impaired after DC in mice, both at early and late time-points. However, there was no impact of DC on the solutes distribution just under the craniectomy. We then provide evidence that this impairment was reversed by CP.

Conclusion

The solute distribution in the brain parenchyma by the CSF and ISF is impaired by DC, a phenomenon reversed by CP.

Functional outcome 1 year after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

Population aging raises questions about extending treatment indications in elderly patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We therefore assessed functional status 1 year after treatment.

METHODS

This study involved 310 patients, aged over 70 years, with ruptured brain aneurysm, enrolled between 2008 and 2014 in a prospective multicentre trial (FASHE study: NCT00692744) but considered unsuitable for randomisation and therefore analysed in the observational arms of the study: endovascular occlusion (EV), microsurgical exclusion (MS) and conservative treatment. The aims were to assess independence, cognition, autonomy and quality of life (QOL) at 1 year post-treatment, using questionnaires (MMSE, ADLI, IADL, EORTC-QLQ-C30) filled in by independent nurses after discharge.

RESULTS

The 310 patients received the following treatments: 208 underwent EV (67.1%), 54 MS (17.4%) and 48 were conservatively managed (15.5%). At 1 year, independence rates for patients admitted with good clinical status (WFNS I-III) were, according to the aneurysm exclusion procedure (EV, MS or conservative), 58.9%, 50% and 12.1% respectively. MMSE score was pathological in 26 of the 112 EV patients (23.2%), 10 of the 25 MS patients (40%) and 4 of the 9 patients treated conservatively (44%), without any statistically significant difference [Pearson's Chi² test, F ratio=4.29; P=0.11]. Regarding QoL, overall score was similar between the EV and MS cohorts, but significantly lower with conservative treatment.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients in good clinical condition with aSAH should be treated regardless of associated comorbidities. Curative treatment (EV or MS) reduced mortality without increasing dependence, in comparison with conservative treatment.

Clip-first policy versus coil-first policy for the exclusion of middle cerebral artery aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are a particular subset of intracranial aneurysms that can be excluded by clipping or coiling. A comparison of the results between these two methods is often limited by a selection bias in which wide-neck and large aneurysms are frequently treated with surgery. Here, the authors report the results of two centers using opposing policies in the management of MCA aneurysms: one center used a clip-first policy while the other used a coil-first policy, which limited the selection bias and ensured a good comparison of these two treatment modalities.

METHODS

All patients treated for either ruptured or unruptured MCA aneurysms at one of two institutions between January 2012 and December 2015 were eligible for inclusion in this study. At one center a clip-first policy was applied, whereas the other applied a coil-first policy. The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of these patients and compared their clinical and radiological outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 187 aneurysms were treated during the inclusion period; 88 aneurysms were treated by coiling and 99 aneurysms by clipping. The baseline patient and radiological characteristics were similar between the two groups, but the clinical presentation of the ruptured aneurysm cohort differed slightly. In the ruptured cohort (n = 90), although patients in the coiling group had a higher rate of additional surgery, the complication rate, functional outcome, and risk of death were similar between the two treatment groups. In the unruptured cohort (n = 97), the complication rate, functional outcome, and risk of death were also similar between the two treatment groups, although the risk of discomfort related to the temporal muscle atrophy was higher in the surgical group. Overall, the rate of complete occlusion was higher in the clipping group (84.2%) than in the coiling group (31%), which led to a higher risk in the coiling group of aneurysm retreatment within the first 2 years (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Clipping and coiling for MCA aneurysm treatment provide the same clinical outcome for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. However, clipping provides higher short- and long-term rates of complete exclusion, which in turn decreases the risk of aneurysm retreatment. Whether this lower occlusion rate can have a clinical impact in the long-term must be further evaluated.

Entrapment of the basilar artery within a clivus fracture: Case report and literature review

A review of the literature revealed that basilar artery (BA) entrapment is a very rare (17 cases published) and severe pathological condition, which often leads to death. We report the case of a 72-year-old man who presented with a longitudinal clivus fracture associated with a basilar artery entrapment. This entrapment was responsible for a basilar artery dissection, which led to an ischemic stroke in the pons. The patient was managed with medical treatment, mainly to avoid a progression towards an ischemic stroke. It consisted of heparin therapy followed by antiplatelet therapy, which finally resulted in a successful outcome. In BA entrapment most of the patients who had a favorable outcome received antithrombotic therapy. This suggests that antithrombotic therapy might be useful in the first line treatment of post-traumatic BA entrapment.

Promoter Hypermethylation of Genes Encoding for RASSF/Hippo Pathway Members Reveals Specific Alteration Pattern in Diffuse Gliomas

Ras association domain family (RASSF)/Hippo pathway alterations are poorly characterized in diffuse gliomas. We assayed promoter methylation of LATS1/2, MST1(STK4)/MST2(STK3), RASSF1, RASSF2, Nore1A/RASSF5, RASSF6, and RASSF10 genes in 133 diffuse gliomas. The RASSF/Hippo pathway was highly silenced in gliomas, particularly RASSF1A (79.4%) and LATS2 (35.9%). The most frequent combination of promoter hypermethylation of one RASSF gene and one Hippo pathway member's gene was RASSF1/LATS2-coupled hypermethylation [n = 44 (33.08%)]. Hypermethylated profiles were related to IDH mutation, yet not randomly in IDH-mutated gliomas, because LATS2 promoter hypermethylation was more frequent in oligodendroglioma than in astrocytoma. RASSF1 and LATS2 promoter hypermethylation predicted a longer overall survival (OS). Considering hypermethylation of these two promoters, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis categorized the patients into three prognostic groups: i) high risk of death (n = 24; both RASSF1 and LATS2 unmethylated promoters; median OS, 13 months); ii) intermediate risk of death (n = 65; RASSF1 or LATS2 hypermethylated promoter; median OS, 50.5 months; HR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-6.4; P = 0.001); and iii) low risk of death (n = 44; both RASSF1 and LATS2 hypermethylated promoters; median OS, 119 months; HR = 75.1; 95% CI, 3.3-15.1; P = 0.001). We have thus highlighted a simple two-gene (RASSF1/LATS2) methylation signature as a tool to stratify different prognostic groups of patients with diffuse glioma, adding further prognostic information within the IDH-mutated group.