Search

This article discusses a case series involving the treatment of complex skull base lesions using a combined endoscopic and open cranial approach. The study included 9 patients with various pathologies, such as sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma, meningioma, mucormycosis, and skull base defect/encephalocele. The surgical goal of achieving gross total tumor resection, resolution of infection, and skull base resection/repair was achieved in 8 out of 9 cases. The study concludes that concurrent combined approaches can effectively treat complex and recurrent skull base pathologies in select patients. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives Skull base chordomas are locally aggressive malignant tumors derived from the notochord remnant. There are limited large-scale studies examining the role and extent of surgery and radiation therapy. Design Analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was performed to evaluate the survival outcomes of various treatments, and to assess for predictors of overall survival (OS). Participants This is a retrospective, population-based cohort study of patients diagnosed with a clival/skull base chordoma between 2004 and 2015 in the NCDB. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Results In all, 468 cases were identified. Forty-nine percent of patients received surgery and 20.7% had positive margins. Mean age at diagnosis was 48.4 years in the surgical cohort, and 55% were males. Of the surgical cohort, 33.8% had negative margins, 20.7% had positive margins, and 45.5% had unknown margin status. Age ≥ 65 (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63–5.76; p < 0.001), diagnosis between 2010 and 2015 (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26–0.90; p = 0.022), tumor size >5 cm (HR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.26–4.15; p = 0.007), and government insurance (HR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.24–4.2; p = 0.008) were independent predictors of OS. When comparing surgery with or without adjuvant radiation, no survival differences were found, regardless of margin status (p = 0.66). Conclusion Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy. Advanced age (>65 years), large tumor size, and government insurance were predictors of worse OS. Whereas negative margins and the use of adjuvant radiation did not appear to impact OS, these may very well reduce local recurrences. A multidisciplinary approach is critical in achieving optimal outcomes in this challenging disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction  Preoperative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is essential in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery to identify potential high-risk anatomic variations. There is no consensus in the literature, as to which grading system to use to describe these variants, leading to inconsistent terminology between studies. In addition, substantial variability exists in the reported incidence of anatomic variants. In this study, we performed an institutional imaging analysis and literature review with the objective of consolidating and clearly defining these sphenoid sinus anatomical variations. In addition, we highlighted their surgical implications and propose a checklist for a systematic assessment of the sphenoid sinus on preoperative CT. Methods  Review of the literature and retrospective analysis assessing several imaging parameters in 81 patients who underwent preoperative HRCT imaging for endoscopic transsphenoidal tumor resection from January 2008 through July 2015 at Rush University Medical Center. Results  The most common sphenoid pneumatization patterns were sellar (45%) and postsellar (49%) types. Anterior clinoid process (ACP) pneumatization was seen in 17% of patients with high concordance of ipsilateral optic nerve (ON) protrusion. ON protrusion and dehiscence was present in 17 and 6% of patients, respectively. Internal carotid artery (ICA) protrusion and dehiscence was present in 30 and 5% of patients, respectively. Dehiscence rates from local bone invasion overlying the ICA and ON occurred in 17 and 4% of cases, respectively. Conclusions  Our study highlights and reviews the key variants that have potential to impact surgical complications and outcomes in a heterogeneous patient population. The proposed preoperative CT checklist for patients, undergoing transsphenoidal surgery, consistently identifies these higher risk anatomical variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives  The objective of this study is to compare the visibility and size of Dorello's canal (DC) on magnetic resonance imaging between patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and control patients, for its evaluation as a potential novel marker for chronic increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Design  Retrospective blinded case–control study. Setting  Tertiary care academic center. Participants  Fourteen patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and diagnosed IIH, as well as an equal number of age and gender-matched controls. Main Outcome Measures  Radiographic presence or absence of visible CSF sleeve within DC as well as CSF sleeve width when present. Results  Following review of 28 IIH canals and 28 control canals, IIH patients were significantly more likely to have a visible CSF sleeve within DC and to have a wider measured medial entrance to DC (p  < 0.001). Conclusion  Identification of CSF evagination into DC may serve as a reliable marker for increased ICP in the IIH population. This finding should be considered in the future as paradigms for diagnosis of IIH continue to evolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An ectopic pituitary adenoma presenting as a clival or sphenoidmass is a rare clinical occurrence that may mislead the clinician and result in unnecessary interventions or potential medicolegal consequences. Here, we present one of the largest multi-institutional case series and review the literature with an emphasis on radiological findings and critical preoperative workup. Methods Retrospective chart review. Results Nine patients were identified with ectopic pituitary adenomas of the sphenoid or clivus. There were four females and five males. Median age was 60 years old (range, 36-73 years). The most common presenting symptom was headache (56%). Five (56%) patients presented with a mass arising fromthe clivus while four (44%) presented with a mass in the sphenoid. Six (67%) patients demonstrated biochemical evidence of hypersecretion on full endocrinology panel. All masses showed evidence of enhancement with gadolinium with a propensity for adjacent bone involvement. Lesions also had a predilection for growth toward the cavernous sinus, carotid artery, or sellar floor. Surgical intervention was performed in eight patients (89%). In eight patients (89%), tumors demonstrated immunoreactivity to prolactin. Conclusions Pituitary adenomas can rarely present as an isolated sphenoid or clival mass. Lesions displayed similar magnetic resonance imaging findings with an erosive growth pattern toward the sellar floor, cavernous sinus, or adjacent carotid artery. Patients with clival or parasellar lesions with comparable features should have a preoperative workup which includes prolactin level and alert the physician to consider an ectopic pituitary adenoma in the differential to prevent unnecessary surgery and potential complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To profile the clinical presentation and treatment results of esthesioneuroblastomas at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), from 2002 to 2013. Design Retrospective review. Setting Tertiary academic institution. Participants Forty-one patients with esthesioneuroblastomas treated at UCLA. Main Outcome Measures Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results Thirty-six patients were included with a mean age of 50.1 years and a median duration of follow-up of 33 months. The 5-year RFS and OS were 54% and 82%, respectively. Modified Kadish stage was the only factor identified to affect OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor grade was the only factor that had an independent impact on RFS. There was no statistical difference in survival among the surgical approaches chosen. Conclusions The updated data on the UCLA experience reveals that all three surgical approaches chosen provide comparable survival, although longer follow-up will be needed to ascertain if these findings hold true. The endoscopic approach had a statistically significant decrease in length of hospital stay and a trend toward reduced blood loss, intensive care unit admission, and complications. The modified Kadish staging was the only factor identified to predict OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor grade was an independent predictor of recurrence; therefore, its importance should be emphasized in future staging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To review our experience in a series of patients who underwent revision endoscopic pituitary surgery. Methods Retrospective chart review. Results A total of 27 patients were included in the study. Of the 21 patients who required nasoseptal flap reconstruction, a left-sided nasoseptal flap was successfully used in 13 patients. Gross total or near-total resection of tumor was achieved in 74.1%. Cavernous sinus invasion and presentation with residual disease were identified as factors limiting extent of resection (p = 0.002 and 0.009, respectively). A statistically significant difference (p = 0.027) was noted between mean largest tumor dimension in patients with gross total resection and those with near-total or subtotal resection. Complications occurred in 22% and included postoperative temporary diabetes insipidus (n = 2), postoperative hypotension (n = 2), new anterior pituitary insufficiency (n = 1), and right-sided abducens palsy (n = 1). Conclusions Revision endoscopic pituitary surgery is advantageous but technically challenging. Cavernous sinus invasion and presentation with residual disease were significant factors limiting extent of resection. Suprasellar extension was not a factor limiting extent of resection and may prove to be an advantage over microscopic speculum-based approaches. Because of the right-sided scarring from prior surgery, a left-sided nasoseptal flap is reliable and advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]