Long-term outcomes of rotating gamma knife for vestibular schwannoma: A 4-year prospective longitudinal study of 89 consecutive patients in Vietnam

Background:

Microsurgical total removal of vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the definitive treatment but has a high incidence of postoperative neurological deficits. Rotating Gamma Knife (RGK) is a preferred option for a small tumor. This study aims to evaluate long-term neurological outcomes of RGK for VS.

Methods:

This prospective longitudinal study was conducted at the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Eighty-nine consecutive patients were enrolled from October 2011 to October 2015 and followed up to June 2017. RGK was indicated for VS measuring <2.2 cm, while RGK for tumors measuring 2.2–3 cm was considered in patients with severe comorbidities, high-risk surgery, and who denied surgery. Concurrently, VS consisted of newly diagnosed, postoperative residual, and recurrent tumors. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 were excluded from the study. Primary outcomes were radiological tumor control rate, vestibulocochlear functions, facial and trigeminal nerve preservation. Stereotactic radiosurgery was performed by the Rotating Gamma System Gamma ART 6000.

Results:

The tumors were measured 20.7 ± 5.6 mm at pre treatment and 17.6 ± 4.1 mm at 3-year post treatment. The mean radiation dose was 13.5 ± 0.9 Gy. Mean follow-up was 40.6 ± 13.3 months. The radiological tumor control rate was achieved 95.5% at 5-year post treatment. The hearing and vestibular functions were preserved in 70.3% and 68.9%, respectively. The facial and trigeminal nerve preservation rates were 94.4% and 73.3%, respectively.

Conclusion:

RGK is an effective and safe treatment for VS measuring ≤3 cm with no significant complications during long-term follow-up.

Exclusive waterpipe smoking and the risk of nasopharynx cancer in Vietnamese men, a prospective cohort study

Tobacco smoking is carcinogenic to humans. Besides cigarettes, the most common form of tobacco smoking, there was sparse evidence of waterpipe's carcinogenicity-induced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). This study investigated the association between waterpipe smoking and NPC mortality. Our study followed up with 20,144 eligible man participants from nine northern Vietnam communes between 2007 and 2019. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to gather data on exclusive waterpipe and cigarette smoking and dietary intake using structured semi-quantitative food frequency and lifestyle questionnaires. Nasopharyngeal cancer was determined by accessing the medical records at the state health facilities. We estimated the Cox proportional hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals, HR (95% CI). The proportion of never smokers, exclusive waterpipe, exclusive cigarette, and dual waterpipe and cigarette smokers was 55.8%, 14.5%, 16.6%, and 13.1%, respectively. Exclusively waterpipe smokers increased the risk of NPC death compared to exclusively cigarette smokers, HR (95% CI): 4.51 (1.25, 16.31), p = 0.022. A dose-dependent positive relationship between NPC and exclusive waterpipe smoking was significantly seen for higher intensity HR (95% CI): 1.35 (1.07, 1.71), earlier age of smoking initiation HR (95% CI): 1.26 (1.06, 1.50), longer duration HR (95% CI): 1.31 (1.04, 1.66), and the cumulative number of a smoke lifetime HR (95% CI): 1.37 (1.08, 1.74). We observed a significant positive association between exclusive waterpipe smoking and NPC in men. The findings suggested that waterpipe smoking is likely more harmful than cigarettes in developing this cancer. A firm tobacco control against waterpipe smoking is highly recommended.

Late recurrence of primary cerebellar germinoma at unusual site after complete response to radiotherapy

Background:

The primary cerebellar germinoma is exceptional and difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Its recurrence at the middle cranial fossa after complete response to radiotherapy is unique and associated with a poor prognosis. This article aims to report the successful management of the late recurrence of primary cerebellar germinoma at an unusual site after 4 years of complete response to radiotherapy.

Case Description:

A 22-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of severe headache and loss of balance. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a triventricular hydrocephalus due to a 45x50mm cerebellar mass. Our preliminary diagnosis was medulloblastoma. First, we placed a ventriculoperitoneal shunt with the medium-pressure valve, and then we used midline suboccipital craniotomy to remove the tumor completely. The histopathology was germinoma. The patient received 24 Gy craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with a 16 Gy boost to the primary site and had an MRI follow-up every six months. After a 4-year follow-up, he complained of recurrent severe headaches. The brain MRI illustrated a 62 × 61 mm temporal mass. We extirpated this tumor, and histopathology again revealed germinoma. After that, the patient received induction radiotherapy. The 1-year postoperative MRI showed no tumor remnant. At the time of writing, the patient had no headache and no neurological deficits.

Conclusion:

Regular follow-ups with routine neuroaxis MRI should be recommended to detect recurrence early for all patients with intracranial germinomas. Surgical resection, if possible, and subsequent CSI are the most effective salvage treatment for recurrent germinoma.

Novel hazards of waterpipe tobacco and the benefits of stop smoking in men, a prospective cohort study

Waterpipe smoking is an emerging epidemic and a severe public health problem worldwide. Observational studies on the hazards of a specific new waterpipe tobacco product are timely needed. The objectives were to analyze how dangerous waterpipe tobacco smoking is on the causes of all mortality, including cancer, and how effective smoking cessation is for improving health. We analyzed the hazards of exclusive waterpipe smoking through a prospective cohort study in Northern Vietnam. We obtained exposure data on the smoking status of specific cigarette and waterpipe and smoking cessation histories from each study participant. The outcome includes deaths due to all causes. The cause of death for each case is determined based on medical records. HR (95%CI) was estimated using a Cox proportional-hazards-regression analysis for overall mortality and all cancers. The ever-cigarette smoking group as the reference group, the exclusive waterpipe smoking group had a statistical increase in the risk for overall mortality HR (95% CI): 1.63 (1.32, 2.00), and all cancers HR (95%CI): 1.67 (1.18, 2.38). The risk of death increased statistically in the group of waterpipe smoking over 20 years for overall mortality HR (95%CI): 1.82 (1.45, 2.29), and all cancers HR (95%CI): 1.91 (1.27, 2.88). After stopping smoking, the risk of death decreased steadily. The risk of death was reduced by 41% for overall mortality HR (95%CI): 0.59 (0.39, 0.89), and 74% for death from cancers HR (95%CI): 0.26 (0.08, 0.83) after ten years or longer of cessation. Life expectancy was shortened by more than six years for the group of exclusive waterpipe smokers compared to non-smokers. This study found new novel hazards of exclusive waterpipe tobacco smoking. The findings are scientific evidence for developing strategies, policies, and budget allocations to control this novel tobacco product and promote cessation to improve life expectancy.

Malignant mucosal melanoma of paranasal sinuses: A case report

Introduction

Mucosal melanoma of paranasal sinuses is a rare disease with a challenging treatment and a poor prognosis. In this paper, we reported the successful multimodality treatment of malignant mucosal melanoma of frontal sinus.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old female presented with a frequent nosebleed for one month before admission. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass in the right frontal and ethmoidal sinuses with adjacent bone erosion and right orbit invasion. Biopsy revealed malignant melanoma. No metastasis was found. The definitive diagnosis was malignant mucosal melanoma of paranasal sinuses AJCC stage IVb (T4bN0M0). We used right frontobasal craniotomy to resect tumor for local control of the disease. Immunohistochemical staining was Melan A(+), S100(+), and HMB45(+). A week postoperative, she received adjuvant radiotherapy and immunotherapy (pembrolizumab). For three months postoperative, the patient had no recurrence and metastasis, no headache and no new neurological deficits. She returned to her daily activities.

Clinical discussion

Mucosal melanoma of paranasal sinuses is usually aggressive and diagnosed at an advanced stage. Management options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. These options were performed on a case-by-case basis and depend on the extent and location of the tumor. Despite that, the prognosis remains very poor, with a high rate of local recurrences and distant metastases. Therefore, post-treatment lifetime and frequent follow-ups are highly recommended.

Conclusion

The critical issues in management of mucosal melanoma are early diagnosis, multimodality treatment, and frequent follow-ups.

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Malignant mucosal melanoma of paranasal sinuses is a rare and complicated disease.

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The prognosis of this disease remains very poor despite advances in treatment.

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The critical issues in management are early diagnosis, multimodality treatment, and frequent follow-ups.

Surgical outcomes of premeatal and retromeatal cerebellopontine angle meningioma in Vietnam: a single-center prospective cross-sectional study

Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) meningiomas are the second most common tumor of the CPA. Depending on the site of dural attachment, the relationship between the tumor and critical neurovascular structures of the CPA is variable. This study aims to evaluate the influence of CPA meningioma location in relation to the internal auditory canal (IAC) on clinical symptoms, radiological presentations, and surgical treatments and outcomes which has been rarely reported in Vietnam.

Patients and methods

A prospective study on 33 patients treated with microsurgery from August 2020 to May 2022 at the Neurosurgery Center, Viet Duc University Hospital.

Results

The mean age of 27 females (85%) and 6 (15%) males was 54±12 years. Based on their location to the IAC, there were 16 premeatal cases (49%) (anterior to the IAC) and 17 retromeatal cases (15%) (posterior to the IAC). The time of diagnosis of the retromeatal group was later (16.5 vs. 9.7 months), the average tumor size of the 2 groups was not different, but when there was brainstem compression, the average tumor size of retromeatal group was larger (49 vs. 44 mm). The clinical presentations of the retromeatal group were related to the cerebellar symptoms, while trigeminal neuropathy symptoms all came from the premeatal group. Gross total resection of the premeatal group was 31% and of the retrometal group was 71%. The results of preserving the facial nerve function of the premeatal group were lower (44 vs. 82%). Postoperative Karnofsky score of the retromeatal group improved, while the premeatal group did not change.

Conclusions

Classification of CPA meningiomas according to their location to the IAC plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment, affecting clinical symptoms, surgical strategy as well as surgical outcomes.