Jan Gliemroth

Whole brain radiotherapy plus stereotactic radiosurgery (WBRT + SRS) versus surgery plus whole brain radiotherapy (OP + WBRT) for 1-3 brain metastases: Results of a matched pair analysis

This study is the first one to compare WBRT+SRS to OP+WBRT for 1-3 brain metastases. Survival (OS), intracerebral control (IC) and local control (LC) of the treated metastases were retrospectively evaluated in 52 patients undergoing WBRT+SRS and in 52 patients undergoing OP+WBRT. Both groups were matched for WBRT schedule, age, gender, performance status, tumour, number of brain metastases, extracerebral metastases, RPA class and interval from tumour diagnosis to WBRT. One-year OS was 56% after WBRT+SRS and 47% after OP+WBRT (p=0.034). One-year IC was 66% and 50% (p=0.003). One-year LC was 82% and 66% (p=0.006). On multivariate analyses, it was found that improved OS was associated with younger age (p=0.044), no extracerebral metastases (p<0.001), RPA class 1 (p<0.001) and longer interval from tumour diagnosis to WBRT (p=0.001). IC was associated with younger age (p=0.002) and longer interval (p=0.004); WBRT+SRS achieved borderline significance (p=0.052). Improved LC was associated with longer interval (p=0.017); WBRT+SRS showed a trend (p=0.09). WBRT+SRS appears at least as effective as OP+WBRT.

Dural arteriovenous malformation in the anterior cranial fossa

Two cases of dural arteriovenous malformation (AVM) at the base of the anterior cranial fossa are described. In both cases an intracerebral hematoma following the rupture of the AVM was the first indication of the disease. In one case, the malformation was supplied both by the anterior ethmoidal artery and frontopolar artery draining into the superior sagittal sinus. In the second case, the right anterior ethmoidal artery with draining veins into the superior sagittal sinus and sphenoparietal sinus was the feeding vessel. Surgical evacuation of the hematoma and excision of the malformation was performed on both patients. The typical clinical signs and radiological findings are described. A review of the pertinent literature is given.

Structural brain changes following peripheral vestibulo-cochlear lesion may indicate multisensory compensation

Background Do central mechanisms account for the variability of clinical recovery following peripheral vestibulo-cochlear lesions? Objective To investigate structural (morphological) plasticity in the human brain following unilateral vestibulo-cochlear lesions which might contribute to central vestibular compensation. Methods The authors compared regional grey matter volume (GMV) changes in patients after surgical removal of unilateral acoustic neuroma with age-matched control subjects, and hypothesised morphometric changes in the vestibular and auditory cortices which may be related to functional disability scores. Patients were examined with a battery of neuro-otological tests and clinical scores to assess vestibular and auditory disability. Results Voxel-based morphometry was used for categorical comparison between patients and age- and gender-matched controls. GMV increase was found bilaterally in primary somatosensory cortices and motion-sensitive areas in the medial temporal gyrus (MT). Simple regression analysis revealed a GMV increase (1) in the contralesional superior temporal gyrus/posterior insula to be correlated with decreasing clinically assessed vestibular deficits; (2) in the contralesional inferior parietal lobe with decreasing functional impairment of daily living activities; and (3) in the contralesional auditory cortex (Heschl gyrus) with decreasing hearing impairment. Conclusions These data may suggest structural cortical plasticity in multisensory vestibular cortex areas of patients with unilateral peripheral vestibulo-cochlear lesion after surgical removal of acoustic neuroma. As changes of GMV were related to vestibular function, structural brain changes may reflect central mechanisms of vestibular compensation.

Pituitary apoplexy after cardiac surgery presenting as deep coma with dilated pupils

Acute clinical deterioration due to infarction or haemorrhage of an existing, often previously unrecognized, pituitary tumour is a rare but well‐described complication. It can occur spontaneously or may be caused e.g. by mechanical ventilation, infection or surgical procedures. We report on a case of pituitary apoplexy occurring in a 64‐year‐old patient 3 weeks after cardiac surgery. The patient presented with deep coma and dilated pupils. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a haemorrhagic pituitary tumour. After prompt endocrinologic replacement therapy with levothyroxine and hydrocortisone the patient regained consciousness. Neurological examination revealed right oculomotor nerve palsy and bilateral cranial nerve VI palsy. Subsequent trans‐sphenoidal removal of a nonfunctional macroadenoma with large necrotic areas was performed. The patient recovered completely. To our knowledge, pituitary tumours presenting with a combination of deep coma and dilated pupils must be considered exceedingly rare. Possible pathophysiologic mechanisms are discussed. As our case illustrates, even in severe cases complete recovery is possible if the diagnosis is suspected, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures are initiated in time.

Biochemical tissue monitoring during hypoxia and reoxygenation

Oxygen deficiency during critical illness may cause profound changes in cellular metabolism and subsequent tissue and organ dysfunction. Clinical treatment in these cases targets rapid reoxygenation to avoid a prolonged impaired synthesis of cellular high-energy phosphates (ATP). However, the effect of this therapeutic intervention on tissue metabolism has not been determined yet. Thus the present study was designed to determine the effects of hypoxia and reoxygenation with either room air or 100% oxygen on variables of interstitial metabolism in different tissues using in vivo microdialysis. Twenty-seven adult, male CD-rats (407-487 g; Ivanovas, Kisslegg, Germany) were studied during general anesthesia. Following preparation and randomization, rats were normoventilated for 45 min (FiO(2) 0.21), followed by induction of hypoxia (FiO(2) 0.1, 40 min) and reoxygenated for 50 min either with FiO(2) 1.0 (group 1, n=10) or FiO(2) 0.21 (group 2, n=10). Control animals (n=7) were ventilated with 21% oxygen during the observation period. Additional to invasive haemodynamic parameters, biochemical tissue monitoring was performed using CMA 20 microdialysis probes, inserted into muscle, subcutaneous space, liver, and the peritoneal cavity allowing analyses of lactate and pyruvate at short intervals. Hypoxia induced a significant reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in group 1 and 2 compared with the control group (P<0.05) without any significant differences between both treatment groups. This was accompanied by a significant increase in blood lactate (10.5+/-3.1 mM (group 1) and 12.3+/-4.1 mM (group 2) vs. 1.5+/-0.3 mM (control); P<0.05) and severe metabolic acidosis (base excess (BE): -18.3+/-5 mM (1) and -17.3+/-7 mM (2) vs. -2.6+/-1.8 mM (control), P<0.05). During hypoxia, the interstitial lacate/pyruvate ratio in groups 1 and 2 increased to 455+/-199% (muscle), 468+/-148% (intraperitoneal), 770+/-218% (hepatic) and 855+/-432% (subcutaneous) (P<0.05 vs. control, respectively). No significant inter-organ or inter-group differences in interstitial dialysates were observed in the treatment groups, neither during hypoxia nor during reoxygenation. Our data suggest, that hypoxia induces comparable metabolic alterations in various tissues and that reoxygenation with 100% oxygen is not superior to 21% oxygen in restoring tissue metabolism after critical hypoxia.

Single brain metastasis: Resection followed by whole-brain irradiation and a boost to the metastatic site compared to whole-brain irradiation plus radiosurgery

OBJECTIVE The most appropriate treatment for a single brain metastasis is still controversial. This matched-pair analysis compared whole-brain irradiation plus radiosurgery (WBI+RS) to neurosurgical resection followed by whole-brain irradiation and a boost to the metastatic site (NR+WBI+B). METHODS The data of 46 patients treated with WBI+RS were matched 1:1 to 46 patients treated with NR+WBI+B with respect to age, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), tumor type, extracerebral metastases, and interval from first diagnosis of cancer to treatment of the metastasis, RPA class, and GPA score. Both groups were compared for local control of the treated metastasis, intracerebral control, and survival. RESULTS The 1-year local control rates were 85% after WBI+RS and 78% after NR+WBI+B (p=0.35). The 1-year intracerebral control rates were 74% and 68% (p=0.33), respectively. The 1-year survival rates were 64% and 58% (p=0.70), respectively. A multivariate analysis was not performed for local and intracerebral control, because no factor achieved significance on univariate analyses for these endpoints. Improved survival was associated with KPS>70 (p=0.032), absence of extracerebral metastases (p=0.003), RPA-class 1 (p=0.014), and GPA score of 3.0-4.0 (p=0.010). CONCLUSION Treatment outcomes were not significantly different after WBI+RS or NR+WBI+B. Because WBI+RS is less invasive, it may be preferable for many patients with a single brain metastasis.

HELLP syndrome with haemaglobin vasospasm

The syndrome of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP syndrome) is a life threatening, severe complication of pre-eclampsia with typical laboratory findings. An unusual case of a 36-year-old woman with HELLP syndrome and the initial complication of intracerebral haemorrhage is presented. The diagnosis of HELLP syndrome was confirmed by elevated liver enzymes, low platelets, increased total bilirubin and increased lactate dehydrogenase. The intracranial haematoma was removed with good neurological recovery ensuing. However, this case was complicated by cerebral vasospasm on the eleventh day, confirmed by cerebral angiography and computer tomographic findings. The patient died from brain swelling. Possible vasospam should be considered during the treatment of patients with HELLP syndrome.

Single brain metastasis: Radiosurgery alone compared with radiosurgery plus up-front whole-brain radiotherapy

Neurosurgical resection is considered the standard treatment for most patients with a single brain metastasis. However, radiosurgery (RS) is a reasonable alternative. It was demonstrated that whole‐brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in addition to RS improves local control of 1‐3 brain metastases. Little information is available regarding WBRT in addition to RS for a single lesion.

Cavernous angioma as a rare neuroradiologic finding in the cavernous sinus

We report the case of a 56-year-old female with a pathologically confirmed cavernous angioma of the cavernous sinus. There are only a few reports on cavernous sinus angiomas in the literature. In contrast to typical intracerebral cavernous angiomas, these lesions are characterized by strong contrast enhancement on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In spite of the problematic location within the cavernous sinus, these angiomas can be completely resected without additional neurologic deficits. The clinical course of the patient and the unusual neuroradiologic imaging findings, as well as the cases from the literature are discussed.

Ventriculocisternostomy versus ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the treatment of hydrocephalus: A retrospective, long-term observational study

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was the retrospective analysis of long-term data on endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy versus ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement in the treatment of hydrocephalus. METHODS A total of 159 patients were included in the study. One hundred and twenty-three patients received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, whereas 36 patients were treated with an endoscopic procedure. Only patients with a postoperative observation period of at least 3 years were included in the analyses of the long-term data. In addition to general patient and operation data, the number and frequency of perioperative complications (infections, dysfunctions) and the frequency and type of necessary revision operations were collected. RESULTS The average observation period was 69 months for both groups. The risk of operative revision was significantly elevated in the shunt group despite a comparable observation period. Whereas 86.11% of the endoscopy group did not require an operative revision, that only applied to 68.85% of the shunt group. The complication rate was 42.7% in the shunt group per procedure, which was clearly higher than in the endoscopy group at only 9.4%. CONCLUSION The risk of operative revision and/or complications is significantly lower in the endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy group compared to the ventriculoperitoneal shunt group. Given the appropriate indication, endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy is thus the treatment of choice.