Intracranial aspergillosis in immunocompetent adult patients without risk factors: a systematic review

The clinical features and prognostic factors of intracranial aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients without risk factors are not well known. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched for all relevant case reports/series on adult patient (≥ 18 years) with aspergillosis published from 1976 to 2018. One hundred eighty-two patients (median age, 40 years; range, 18-83 years; male:female, 115:67) were identified. Types of intracranial aspergillosis included intracranial mass from the skull base (54.9%), pure intraparenchymal disease (23.6%), meningoencephalitis (13.2%), and dural-based mass (8.2%). Vascular complications occurred in 44 patients (26.3%). Eighty-one patients (44.5%) had favourable final clinical outcomes without any deficits, whereas 58 (31.9%) died. Disease-related mortality improved significantly over time (43.1% [28/65] before 2000, 25.9% [30/116] after 2001; p = 0.021). Patients with meningoencephalitis demonstrated the highest mortality rate (79.2%, 19/24). Medical non-responders (patients whose disease course worsened after receiving the initial medication regimen) and vascular complications (the presentation of subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, or infarction related to the rupture or occlusion of intracranial vessels) were significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.001). Findings from the current review may help predict patient prognosis at the initial assessment and determine potential prognostic factors.

Multiple intracranial juvenile xanthogranuloma not a straightforward diagnosis (a case report)

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) rarely presents as multifocal intracranial disease in the paediatric population. Therefore, this case of extensive tumour burden, primarily within the lateral ventricles, presented a neurosurgical challenge on numerous fronts.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This is the case of a 9-year-old male presenting with a 2-year history of visual disturbances. Radiographic imaging demonstrated extensive intracranial masses involving both lateral ventricles, the straight sinus and right cerebellum. A staged tumour resection was planned, targeting the lesions within the right lateral ventricle initially. Complete resection was achieved during surgery. Post-operative morbidity showed a decline in the patient's functional status with respect to mobility and communication, Glasgow outcome scale 3. Extensive immunohistochemical analysis ultimately revealed a diagnosis of JXG. The patient is undergoing chemotherapy, with subsequent surgical resection being dependent on overall recovery.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

JXG is the most common form of non-Langerhans histiocytosis and typically arises as a cutaneous disorder during early childhood. It is a rare cause of extensive intracranial tumour burden, with limited publications of this kind in the literature. This is even more atypical given the absence of any of the classic cutaneous morphology seen in JXG.

CONCLUSION

JXG involving the central nervous system is a rare encounter. Therefore, a clear algorithm for the management of a case of extensive intracranial tumours resulting from JXG has not been defined. This only amplifies the difficulty in treating these cases.

Optimal timing of post-operative enoxaparin after neurosurgery: A single institution experience

PURPOSE

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-known problem in patients with intracranial tumors, especially high-grade gliomas. Optimal management of VTE complications is critical given that the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism can exacerbate medical comorbidities and increase mortality. However, little is known about the optimum time to initiate post-operative anticoagulant prophylaxis. Therefore, there is a keen interest amongst neurosurgeons to develop evidence-based protocols to prevent VTE in post-operative brain tumor patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified adult patients who underwent elective craniotomy for intracranial tumor resection between 2012 and 2017. Patients were categorized according to the time at which they began receiving prophylactic enoxaparin in the immediate post-operative period, within one day (POD 1), two days (POD 2), three days (POD 3), five days (POD 5), or seven days (POD 7).

RESULTS

A total of 1087 patients had a craniotomy for intracranial tumor resection between 2012 and 2017. Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis demonstrated that initiation of prophylactic enoxaparin within 72 h of surgery was protective against the likelihood of developing a lower extremity DVT (OR: 0.32; CI: 0.10-0.95; p = 0.049) while controlling for possible risk factors for DVTs identified on univariate analysis. Furthermore, complication rates between the anticoagulation and non-anticoagulation groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Initiating anticoagulant prophylaxis with subcutaneous enoxaparin sodium 40 mg once per day within 72 h of surgery can be done safely while reducing the risk of developing lower extremity DVT.

Comparison of frame-less robotic versus frame-based stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions

OBJECTIVE

Robotic guidance might be an alternative to classic stereotaxy for biopsies of intracranial lesions. Both methods were compared regarding time efficacy, histopathological results and complications.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis enrolling all patients undergoing robotic- or stereotactic biopsies between 01/2015 and 12/2018 was conducted. Trajectory planning was performed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With the Robotic Surgery Assistant (ROSA), patient registration was accomplished using a facial laser scan in the operating room (OR), immediately followed by biopsy. In stereotaxy, patients were transported to the CT for Leksell Frame registration, followed by biopsy in the OR.

RESULTS

The average overall procedure time amounted in robotics to 169 min and in stereotaxy to 179 min (p = 0.005). The difference was greatest for temporal targets, amounting in robotics to 161 min and in stereotaxy to 188 min (p = 0,0007). However, the average time spent purely in the OR amounted in robotics to 140 min and in stereotaxy to 113 min (p < 0.001). In 150 robotic biopsies, diagnostic yield amounted to 98%, in 266 stereotactic biopsies to 91%. Symptomatic postoperative hemorrhages were observed in 3 patients (2%) in robotic biopsy and 7 patients (2,7%) in stereotactic biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Robotics showed a shorter overall procedure time as there is no need for a transport to the CT whereas the pure OR time was shorter in stereotaxy due to skipping the laser registration process. Diagnostic yield was higher in robotics, most likely due to case selection, complication rates were equal.

Update in mild traumatic brain injury

There has been concern for many years regarding the identification of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) at high risk of developing an intracranial lesion (IL) that would require neurosurgical intervention. The small percentage of patients with these characteristics and the exceptional mortality associated with mild TBI with IL have led to the high use of resources such as computerised tomography (CT) being reconsidered. The various protocols developed for the management of mild TBI are based on the identification of risk factors for IL, which ultimately allows more selective indication or discarding both the CT application and the hospital stay for neurological monitoring. Finally, progress in the study of brain injury biomarkers with prognostic utility in different clinical categories of TBI has recently been incorporated by several clinical practice guidelines, which has allowed, together with clinical assessment, a more accurate prognostic approach for these patients to be established.

[Implementation of multimodal navigation combined with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in the frameless stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions]

Objective: To investigate the impact and value of multimodal navigation and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) on the biopsy of intracranial lesions. Methods: From February, 2009 to December, 2016, this study enrolled 156 patients, who underwent multimodal navigation and iMRI-guided brain biopsy in the Neurosurgery Department of PLA General Hospital. Metabolic information was used for biopsy target selection. Intraoperative guidance helped biopsy trajectory avoid the eloquent structures. iMRI was performed to prove the biopsy accuracy and to revise the incorrect biopsy. Diagnostic rate, perioperative neurological status, surgical parameter, and surgical outcome were recorded. Results: The first iMRI helped to revise 7 (4.5%) incorrect biopsy sites, and final iMRI confirmed biopsy accuracy in all cases. Postoperative diagnostic rate was 96.8% (151/156). No statistical difference was found between postoperative and preoperative neurological statuses, despite 86 (55.1%) lesions were adjacent to eloquent areas. Additionally, iMRI detected 6 (3.8%) intraoperative hematomas that were treated immediately. Conclusions: Brian biopsy with iMRI and multimodal navigation is a safe, accurate and efficient biopsy modality. This technique may help increase the biopsy accuracy with low morbidity and mortality.

Intracranial lesion as onset symptom in a patient with early undifferentiated connective tissue disease: a case report

Background

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is widely considered to be a distinct clinical entity, and now divided into two subgroups: stable UCTD and early UCTD. The most frequent onset symptoms of UCTD include arthralgias, arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, mucocutaneous involvement, and sicca symptoms. However, Neurologic involvement is rare, and intracranial lesion as onset symptom in a patient with early UCTD has not yet been reported.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old Chinese female experienced progressive left leg weakness for 14 days before hospitalizing in our department. The lesion on right parietal lobe was initially detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging. Although the patient declined a cerebral biopsy, the possibility of stroke, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, NMOSD, MS, autoimmune encephalitis, intracranial infections, and malignant tumors as cause of the lesion was excluded by intracranial angiogram, CSF study, MRI enhancement and MRS examination. Moreover, immunologic studies showed high titer of antinuclear antibody, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. These results led to a diagnosis of early UCTD with central nerve system (CNS) involvement. After low dose corticosteroid and azathioprine therapy, the patient’s symptoms, abnormalities in immunologic tests and cerebral radiologic examinations were all greatly improved within a short duration.

Conclusions

This is the first report of intracranial lesion as onset symptom in a patient with early UCTD. Our case suggested that central nerve system (CNS) involvement could be the onset symptom in early UCTD, and should be recognized quickly with exclusion of other causative factors in the differential diagnosis. Prompt and adequate treatment with low-dose steroid and immunosuppressive drugs could improve the prognosis of both early UCTD and CNS involvement.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0868-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diagnostic Value and Safety of Stereotactic Biopsy in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Patients with Intracranial Lesions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of stereotactic biopsy in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with intracranial lesions via meta-analysis.

METHODS

Relevant cohort studies were identified through a literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Ovid from 1985 to October 1, 2016. Appropriate studies were identified per search criteria. Systematic review and meta-analysis were used to assess the diagnostic success rate, changed management rate, clinical improvement rate, mortality rate, morbidity rate, hemorrhage rate, hemorrhage in morbidity rate, and final histologic diagnosis results. Study-specific outcomes were combined per a random effects model. Outcomes were compared between the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and post-HAART groups. Correlations between outcomes were assessed via meta-regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 19 cohort studies with 820 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The weighted proportions per the random effects model were 92.2% (95% confidence interval [CI; 89.3%-94.5%]) for diagnostic success rate, 5.1% (95% CI [2.5%-8.3%]) for morbidity, and 0.7% (95% CI [0%-1.9%]) for mortality. The most common procedure-related morbidity was hemorrhage at 3.3% (95% CI [1.1%-6.3%]). Hemorrhage in morbidity was 78.0% (95% CI [51.4%-97.4%]). Management changed and clinical improvement were 60.4% (95% CI [49.4%-71.0%]) and 34.0% (95% CI [22.2%-46.8%]), respectively. The 4 most common diagnoses were primary central nervous system lymphoma (27.8%; 95% CI [20.2%-36.1%]), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) (21.0%; 95% CI [14.3%-28.4%]), toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) (20.3%; 95% CI [14.3%-27.0%]), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalitis (4.1%; 95% CI [1.4%-7.6%]). Multiple diagnoses rate was 1.2% (95% CI [0.0%-3.6%]). HIV encephalitis rate was significantly higher in the post-HAART group than the pre-HAART group (17.9% vs. 3.2%, respectively; P = 0.0024).

CONCLUSIONS

Stereotactic biopsy is a safe and effective way of diagnosing intracranial lesions in patients with AIDS. It is helpful for the differential diagnosis and for choosing a suitable therapy. The 4 most common intracranial lesions in patients with AIDS are lymphoma, PML, TE, and HIV encephalitis.