INTRODUCTION: Pediatric low-grade gliomas arising from the thalamus or thalamopeduncular junction are rare. Prognostic factors are thus seldom reported in the literature. RESEARCH QUESTION: This systematic review aims to define the factors influencing the prognosis of pediatric patients with thalamic and thalamopeduncular low-grade gliomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An extensive literature search in adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed and included Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID interface (Medline and Embase). Original articles were selected if they provided data on 10 or more patients under 18 years old with separate or retrievable data for thalamic or thalamopeduncular low-grade gliomas, as well as at least one prognostic factor and its corresponding outcome. The risk of bias and applicability were assessed using The Quality Assessment of Prognostic Accuracy Studies criteria. RESULTS: The study selection process resulted in the inclusion of 14 articles out of the initial pool of 876 references. These 14 articles encompassed data from 446 patients. The prognostic factors reported were the extent of resection in ten studies, age and radiotherapy in four studies, bilateral involvement and molecular genetics in two studies, and sex and dissemination in one study each. Significant prognostic factors included the extent of resection, bilateral involvement, histology, and radiotherapy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The reported factors considered significant for prognosis align with previously published data. The maximal safe resection, as a potentially curative modality for thalamic low-grade glioma, and the multidisciplinary approach to each patient should be a standard of care. Given the excellent long-term outlook of these patients, the extent of resection should not be pursued at the risk of neurological function since additional therapeutic possibilities are available today, such as molecular-targeted agents.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
UNLABELLED: PURPOSE : Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) represents an opportunity to non-invasively investigate cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) flow in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Studies in recent years have explored the diagnostic and prognostic value of PC-MRI derived parameters. This review aims to identify all PC-MRI studies of iNPH published since 2010, synthesise a review based on collated results, and analyse specific flow parameters identified in the selected studies. METHODS: Our protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO [CRD42020180826]. We systematically searched four databases: Pubmed, Web of Science, Ovid, and Cochrane library to identify all eligible studies. Quality assessment was performed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale [19]. Systematic review was conducted according to Prisma guidelines. A random-effects model was used to perform meta-analysis on the available flow parameters. RESULTS: Eighteen records were identified for inclusion. Five studies were eligible for meta-analysis, representing 107 iNPH patients and 82 controls. CSF flow parameters available for analysis were stroke volume and peak velocity. Both were significantly higher than controls (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.0045 respectively) according to our random-effects analysis, consistent with a model of hyper-dynamic CSF in iNPH. Our systematic review revealed average stroke volumes in iNPH ranging from 43uL to over 200uL. Peak velocity values ranged from 5.9 cm/s to 12.8 cm/s. CONCLUSION: Significant increases in stroke volume and peak velocity values in iNPH patients suggest a place for PC-MRI as supplementary evidence in the diagnostic work-up of iNPH. Although shunting reduces aqueductal stroke volume and peak velocity, the ability of pre-shunt values to reliably predict treatment response remains complicated. We suggest that it may be more appropriate to consider a range of values that reflect varying probabilities of shunt success. We recommend that future studies should prioritise standardising PC-MRI protocols, and before then PC-MRI findings should be considered supportive rather than determinative.
- MeSH
- kognice fyziologie MeSH
- kognitivní dysfunkce psychologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neuropsychologické testy MeSH
- normotenzní hydrocefalus * chirurgie diagnóza MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- dopisy MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are a rare entity of vascular anomalies, characteristic of anatomical shunting where arterial blood directly flows into the venous circulation. The main aim of the active treatment policy of brain AVMs is the prevention of haemorrhage. There are well-established treatment strategies that continually improve in their safety and efficacy, primarily due to the advances in imaging modalities, targeted and novel techniques, the development of alternative treatment approaches, and even better experience with the disease itself. There are interesting imaging novelties that may be prospectively applicable in the decision-making and planning of the most effective treatment approach for individual patients with intracranial AVM. Surgery is often considered the first-line treatment; however, each patient should be evaluated individually, and the risks of the active treatment policy should not overcome the benefits of the spontaneous natural history of the disease. All treatment modalities, i.e., surgery, radiosurgery, endovascular embolization, and observation, are justified but need to be meticulously selected for each individual patient in order to deliver the best treatment outcome. This chapter deals with historical and currently applied dogmas, followed by introductions of advances in each available treatment modality of AVM management.
We sought to describe the cognitive profile of patients with Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Based on age and education correlated norms, we aimed to compare performance in each measured cognitive domain: executive functions (EFs), verbal memory (VM), non-verbal memory (nVM), visuoconstructional abilities (VA) and attention/psychomotor speed (A/PS). Patients diagnosed with iNPH underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation before shunting. Their performance was compared to the age and education correlated norms. Correlation of different cognitive domains in iNPH profile was performed. A total of 53 iNPH patients (73.21 ± 5.48 years) were included in the study. All of the measured cognitive domains were significantly damaged. The most affected domains were EFs and VM (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). A/PS domain was affected milder than EFs and VM (p<0.001). The least affected domains were nVM (p<0.001) and VA (p<0.001). Patients with iNPH are affected in all cognitive domains and the cognitive decline is uneven across these domains. The impairment of memory was shown to depend on the presented material. VM was shown to be much more severely affected than nVM and along with VM, EFs were shown to be the most affected. A/PS speed was shown to be less affected than VM and EFs and the least affected domains were nVM and VA.
- MeSH
- exekutivní funkce MeSH
- kognice MeSH
- kognitivní dysfunkce * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neuropsychologické testy MeSH
- normotenzní hydrocefalus * diagnóza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Klíčová slova
- supratentorální sutura,
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- intrakraniální krvácení chirurgie diagnóza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neurochirurgické výkony * MeSH
- neurozobrazování metody MeSH
- sutura * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- kazuistiky MeSH
- novinové články MeSH
The aim of this study was to investigate whether white matter changes as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can help differentiate shunt-responsive idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients from patients with other causes of gait disturbances and/or cognitive decline with ventriculomegaly whose clinical symptoms do not improve significantly after cerebrospinal fluid derivation (non-iNPH). Between 2017 and 2022, 85 patients with probable iNPH underwent prospective preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and comprehensive clinical workup. Patients with clinical symptoms of iNPH, positive result on lumbar infusion test, and gait improvement after 120-h lumbar drainage were diagnosed with iNPH and underwent shunt-placement surgery. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values for individual regions of interest were extracted from preoperative MRI, using the TBSS pipeline of FSL toolkit. These FA and MD values were then compared to results of clinical workup and established diagnosis of iNPH. An identical MRI protocol was performed on 13 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Statistically significant differences in FA values of several white matter structures were found not only between iNPH patients and healthy controls but also between iNPH and non-iNPH patients. ROI that showed best diagnostic ability when differentiating iNPH among probable iNPH cohort was uncinate fasciculus, with AUC of 0.74 (p < 0.001). DTI methods of white matter analysis using standardised methods of ROI extraction can help in differentiation of iNPH patients not only from healthy patients but also from patients with other causes of gait disturbances with cognitive decline and ventriculomegaly.
This review evaluates the current evidence for the clinical management of congenital internal carotid artery hypoplasia (CICAH). We summarise clinical presentations diagnostic standards, imaging recommendations, treatment and follow-up. The review was prompted by a case of CICAH in a 50-year-old female who presented to our neurosurgery clinic with an acute episode of vertigo. The patient underwent CT angiogram, which showed an unusually low right carotid bifurcation. The right internal carotid artery (ICA) was hypoplastic, and the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was absent. Skull base CT showed an ipsilateral hypoplastic carotid canal. To summarise current evidence for clinical management of CICAH we followed PRISMA guidelines to identify papers meeting our predefined inclusion criteria. We searched three databases using the terms 'ICA' and 'Hypoplasia'. We reviewed 41 papers meeting our criteria. 34 were clinical reports. We performed a data extraction and quality appraisal on these reports. We found that CICAH may be less rare than previously described. Blood pressure control in CICAH is crucial due to the increased risk of stroke and aneurysm formation. Follow-up imaging is strongly recommended. Carotid doppler sonography is a powerful and underutilised diagnostic tool, and carotid canal hypoplasia is not a pathognomic sign. In conclusion, clinicians should be alert to anatomic variations such as CICAH because these produce haemodynamic changes that may have serious clinical consequences. We recommend a central registry of patients with CICAH in order to understand the longer-term natural history of the condition.
- MeSH
- arteria carotis interna * MeSH
- arteria cerebri anterior MeSH
- arteriae carotides MeSH
- cévní mozková příhoda * MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mozková angiografie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- kazuistiky MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- systematický přehled MeSH
BACKGROUND: Clipping of ophthalmic artery (OA) aneurysms present one of the treatment strategies for long-term disease management. Existing surgical techniques primarily require extra/intradural removal of the anterior clinoid process, carrying a higher risk of infection, damage to surrounding structures or technical complications. METHODS: We present the technique of minimally invasive partial medial clinoidectomy with the unroofing of the optic canal for surgical clipping of OA aneurysms, and besides its pros and cons, we also discuss proper technical indications. CONCLUSION: The partial medial clinoidectomy improves manoeuvrability around the paraclinoid region, provides better protection for adjacent structures and renders excellent treatment outcome.
- MeSH
- arteria carotis interna chirurgie MeSH
- arteria ophthalmica * diagnostické zobrazování chirurgie MeSH
- intrakraniální aneurysma * diagnostické zobrazování chirurgie MeSH
- klínová kost chirurgie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neurochirurgické výkony metody MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Phase-contrast MRI allows detailed measurements of various parameters of CSF motion. This examination is technically demanding and machine dependent. The literature on this topic is ambiguous. Machine learning (ML) approaches have already been successfully utilized in medical research, but none have yet been applied to enhance the results of CSF flowmetry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible contribution of ML algorithms in enhancing the utilization and results of MRI flowmetry in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) diagnostics. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 30 iNPH patients and 15 healthy controls examined on one MRI machine. All major phase-contrast parameters were inspected: peak positive, peak negative, and average velocities; peak amplitude; positive, negative, and average flow rates; and aqueductal area. The authors applied ML algorithms to 85 complex features calculated from a phase-contrast study. RESULTS: The most distinctive parameters with p < 0.005 were the peak negative velocity, peak amplitude, and negative flow. From the ML algorithms, the Adaptive Boosting classifier showed the highest specificity and best discrimination potential overall, with 80.4% ± 2.9% accuracy, 72.0% ± 5.6% sensitivity, 84.7% ± 3.8% specificity, and 0.812 ± 0.047 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The highest sensitivity was 85.7% ± 5.6%, reached by the Gaussian Naive Bayes model, and the best AUC was 0.854 ± 0.028 by the Extra Trees classifier. CONCLUSIONS: Feature extraction algorithms combined with ML approaches simplify the utilization of phase-contrast MRI. The highest-performing ML algorithm was Adaptive Boosting, which showed good calibration and discrimination on the testing data, with 80.4% accuracy, 72.0% sensitivity, 84.7% specificity, and 0.812 AUC. Phase-contrast MRI boosted by the ML approach can help to determine shunt-responsive iNPH patients.
