Radiocirurgia

Journal of Neurosurgery, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-6, Ahead of Print.

Dario J. Englot, M.D., Ph.D., Seunggu J. Han, M.D., Michael T. Lawton, M.D., and Edward F. Chang, M.D.

Object

Seizures are the most common presenting symptom of supratentorial cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) and progress to medically refractory epilepsy in 40% of patients. Predictors of seizure freedom in the resection of CCMs are incompletely understood.

Methods

The authors systematically reviewed the published literature on seizure freedom following the resection of supratentorial CCMs in patients presenting with seizures. Seizure outcomes were stratified across 12 potential prognostic variables. A total of 1226 patients with supratentorial CCMs causing seizures were identified across 31 predominantly retrospective studies; 361 patients had medically refractory epilepsy.

Results

Seventy-five percent of the patients were seizure free after microsurgical lesion removal, whereas 25% continued to have seizures. All patients had had preoperative seizures and > 6 months of postoperative follow-up. Modifiable predictors of postoperative seizure freedom included gross-total resection (OR 36.6, 95% CI 8.5–157.5) and surgery within 1 year of symptom onset (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.30–2.58). Additional prognostic indicators of a favorable outcome were a CCM size < 1.5 cm (OR 15.4, 95% CI 5.2–45.4), the absence of multiple CCMs (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.13–3.60), medically controlled seizures (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.29–4.39), and the lack of secondarily generalized seizures (OR 3.33, 95% CI 2.09–5.30). Other factors, including extended resection of the hemosiderin ring, were not significantly predictive.

Conclusions

In the surgical treatment of supratentorial CCMs, gross-total resection and early operative intervention may improve seizure outcome. While surgery should not be considered the first-line treatment for CCM-related epilepsy, it is important to understand the variables associated with seizure freedom in CCM resection given the considerable morbidity and diminished quality of life associated with epilepsy.

http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2011.7.JNS11536?ai=ru&mi=0&af=R

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Júlio Leonardo B. Pereira
(31) 8515-4111
http://lattes.cnpq.br/7687651239699170
http://www.neurocirurgiabr.com
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BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: A cavernous hemangioma arising from the abducens nerve has not been previously reported in the literature. Based on the surgical experience with this case, the authors discuss the clinical importance and resectability potential of a duplicated abducens nerve. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman presented with a recurrence of diplopia that had occurred 3 years before this admission and had spontaneously resolved without any specific treatment. On admission, there were no specific neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cone-shaped mass on the right anterior cerebellopontine angle with hemorrhagic change. Surgical resection via a standard right lateral suboccipital approach was performed. A cystic mass was found emerging from the entry zone of the Dorello canal and encircling the larger branch of the duplicate abducens nerve. Because there was no demarcation between the mass and origin branch, both were removed en bloc. Pathology revealed the presence of a cavernous hemangioma mixed with nerve tissue. Despite preserving a small branch of the duplicate abducens nerve, the patient had permanent right abducens palsy. CONCLUSION: A cavernous hemangioma arising from the abducens nerve should be suspected as a possible diagnosis for a cystic mass on the anterior cerebellopontine angle. Although duplication of the abducens nerve has not been clearly confirmed on clinical grounds, sacrificing the larger branch during surgery may lead to permanent abducens palsy, as in our case.

http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2011/09000/Cavernous_Hemangioma_of_the_Abducens_Nerve_.26.aspx

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Júlio Leonardo B. Pereira
(31) 8515-4111
http://lattes.cnpq.br/7687651239699170
http://www.neurocirurgiabr.com
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BACKGROUND: Symptomatic patients with a brainstem cavernoma are treated surgically with increasing frequency. Generally, the patient’s benefit from this difficult surgical intervention is quantified by the assessment of neurological symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To document the beneficial effect of surgery in a larger patient population by assessing the postoperative quality of life (QoL). METHODS: In a series of 71 surgically treated patients, a detailed neurological status was assessed by Patzold Rating and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale. Patients rated their QoL with the Short Form 36 Health Survey. To document the effect of surgery on QoL, we devised a supplementary questionnaire. The last 24 patients completed Short Form 36 Health Survey pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Karnofsky Performance Status Scale improved in 44 of 71 surgical patients (62%), remained unchanged in 19 (27%), and deteriorated in 8 (11%) individuals. Patzold Rating showed a more detailed picture of the neurological symptoms. It correlated significantly with Karnofsky Performance Status Scale, which underscores its usefulness for patients with brainstem lesions. In the Short Form 36 Health Survey score, the Mental Component Summary improved with surgery (paired test, P = .015). In addition, 58 individuals (82%) declared a clear subjective benefit of surgery. CONCLUSION: The results of this large series support the notion that microsurgical removal of a brainstem cavernoma represents an effective therapy in experienced hands and is generally associated with good clinical outcome, both neurologically and in terms of QoL.

http://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/Fulltext/2011/09000/Quality_of_Life_After_Brainstem_Cavernoma_Surgery.18.aspx

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Júlio Leonardo B. Pereira
(31) 8515-4111
http://lattes.cnpq.br/7687651239699170
http://www.neurocirurgiabr.com
Sent from my iPad