中江 俊介

Fence-post catheter techniques are used to use tumor margins when resecting gliomas. In the present study, deep electrodes instead of catheters were used as fence-posts. The case of a 25-year-old female patient whose magnetic resonance images (MRI) revealed a tumor in the left cingulate gyrus is presented in this study. She underwent daily seizures without loss of consciousness under the administration of anti-seizure medications. Despite video electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring, the scalp inter-ictal EEG did not show obvious epileptiform discharges. We were consequently uncertain whether such frequent seizures were epileptic seizures or not. As a result, deep electrodes were used as fence-posts: three deep electrodes were inserted into the tumor’s anterior, lateral, and posterior margins using a navigation-guided method. The highest epileptic discharge was detected from the anterior deep electrode. As a result, ahead of the tumor was extendedly resected, and epileptic discharges were eliminated using EEG. The postoperative MRI revealed that the tumor was resected. The patient has never experienced seizures after the surgery. In conclusion, when supratentorial gliomas complicated by frequent seizures are resected, intraoperative EEG monitoring using deep electrodes as fence-posts is useful for estimating epileptogenic areas.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective surgical option for intractable epilepsy. Although the surgical procedure is not so complicated, vagus nerve detection is sometimes difficult due to its anatomical variations, which may lead to surgical manipulation-associated complications. Thus, this study aimed to visualize the vagus nerve location preoperatively by fused images of three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This technique was applied to two cases. The neck 3D-CTA and MRI were performed, and the fused images were generated using the software. The vagus nerve and its anatomical relationship with the internal jugular vein (IJV) and common carotid artery were clearly visualized. The authors predicted that the vagus nerve was detected by laterally pulling the IJV according to the images. Intraoperatively, the vagus nerve was located as the authors predicted. The time of the surgery until the vagus nerve detection was <60 min in both cases. This novel radiological technique for visualizing the vagus nerve is effective to quickly detect the vagus nerve, which has anatomical variations, during the VNS.

Distinguishing primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) from glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype is sometimes hard. Because the role of operation on them varies, accurate preoperative diagnosis is crucial. In this study, we evaluated whether a specific kind of chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging, i.e., amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging, was useful to distinguish PCNSL from glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype. A total of 14 PCNSL and 27 glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype cases were evaluated. There was no significant difference in the mean APTw signal values between the two groups. However, the percentile values from the 1st percentile to the 20th percentile APTw signals and the width1–100 APTw signals significantly differed. The highest area under the curve was 0.796, which was obtained from the width1–100 APTw signal values. The sensitivity and specificity values were 64.3% and 88.9%, respectively. APTw imaging was useful to distinguish PCNSL from glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype. To avoid unnecessary aggressive surgical resection, APTw imaging is recommended for cases in which PCNSL is one of the differential diagnoses.

Abstract Background In glioma surgery, both of functional preservation and maximal safe resection are critical, however, neoadjuvant strategy has never been used because of difficulty of tissue sampling without craniotomy. Method In Keio University Hospital, oligodendrogliomas, i.e., diffuse gliomas with IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion, with incomplete initial resection have been treated by upfront chemotherapy and subsequent resection after tumor volume decrease (second look resection, SLR) since 2006 (J Neurooncol 124:127-35, 2015). At first, initial radiotherapy was prescribed immediately after chemotherapy or SLR only for the cases with aggressive clinical course or subarachnoid infiltration, however, cases with residual FLAIR abnormality after upfront chemotherapy or SLR were also subjected to initial radiotherapy since 2018. Cases 1) with IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion, and 2) without history of either chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and 3) treated with upfront chemotherapy and subsequent resection strategy, were included. Results Thirty nine cases of oligodendroglioma have been treated with the above strategy since 2006. Tumor volume decrease following upfront chemotherapy was 30-35% (median), and 19 tumors underwent SLR. Among the total 39 cases, PFS and OS after initiation of upfront chemotherapy were 81 months and not reached, respectively, and were 64 months and not reached, respectively, among the 32 cases with deferred radiotherapy. Importantly, the majority of tumor recurrence occurred at the residual FLAIR abnormality following upfront chemotherapy. Conclusions Treatment of oligodendrogliomas utilizing neoadjuvant strategy enables 1) decrease of resection volume as compared with initial maximal safe resection, 2) more precise resection, 3) confirmation of the necessity of initial radiotherapy based on the observed efficacy of chemotherapy. Moreover, the study also suggested that 4) invasion front of oligodendroglioma likely withdraw by alkylating agents, and 5) cases with residual FLAIR abnormality following chemotherapy may be appropriate subjects for initial radiotherapy.

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> A common surgical approach for dominant insular lesions is to make a surgical corridor in asymptomatic cortices based on functional mapping. However, the surgical approach is difficult for posterior insular lesions in a dominant hemisphere because the posterior parts of the perisylvian cortices usually have verbal functions. </sec> <sec> <title>OBSERVATIONS</title> We present the case of a 40-year-old male whose magnetic resonance images revealed the presence of contrast-enhancing lesions in the left posterior insula. Our surgical approach was to split the sylvian fissure as widely as possible, and partially resect Heschl’s gyrus if the cortical mapping was negative for language tests. Because Heschl’s gyrus did not have verbal functions, the gyrus was used as a surgical corridor. It was wide enough for the removal of the lesion; however, because intraoperative pathological diagnosis eliminated the possibility of brain tumors, further resection was discontinued. The tissues were histologically diagnosed as tuberculomas. Antituberculosis drugs were administered, and the residual lesions finally disappeared. According to the neurophysiological tests, the patient showed temporary impairment of auditory detection, but the low scores of these tests improved. </sec> <sec> <title>LESSONS</title> The transsylvian and trans-Heschl’s gyrus approach can be a novel surgical option for excising dominant posterior insular lesions. </sec>

BACKGROUND: We investigated the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to distinguish primary central nervous system vasculitis (PCNSV) from glioblastoma to facilitate the development of an appropriate treatment for PCNSV. METHODS: We enrolled patients who were treated for PCNSV or glioblastoma at our center between January 2007 and August 2018. We compared the diagnoses of the 2 conditions by retrospectively reviewing patients' data for contrast-enhanced MRI, perfusion MRI, flow-sensitive black-blood (FSBB) imaging, and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). RESULTS: We evaluated 108 patients (6 PCNSV; 102 glioblastoma). We found a statistically significant correlation between diagnosis and the contrast pattern on MRI. Perivascular enhancement was observed in all cases of PCNSV as follows: ring-like, homogeneous, and irregular patterns were observed in 53 (60%), 18 (20%), and 17 (19%) cases of glioblastoma, respectively. We identified a statistically significant correlation between diagnosis and cerebral blood volume (CBV) in 3 patients with PCNSV who underwent perfusion MRI; and all had low CBVs. Among the 55 patients with glioblastoma who underwent perfusion MRI, low and high CBVs were detected in 3 and 52 patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between diagnosis and FSBB findings. Evaluation of 1H-MRS data showed statistically significant differences between PCNSV and glioblastoma as functions of neuronal amino acid levels on long echo time MRS, with a slightly different amino acid profile, including glutamine + glutamate on short echo time MRS. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced MRI, perfusion MRI, and quantitative analysis of 1H-MRS are valuable techniques for distinguishing PCNSV from glioblastoma before surgery.

Seizures are common neurological emergencies that occasionally cause prolonged impairment of consciousness. The aim of this retrospective single-center study is to clarify factors associated with prolonged impairment of consciousness for admitted adult patients investigating patient backgrounds, blood tests, electroencephalographic patterns, and MRI findings. The patients who were admitted to the hospital due to epileptic seizures were classified into two groups: (1) early recovery group, in which patients recovered their consciousness within 6 hr, and (2) delayed recovery group, in which patients showed impairment of consciousness more than 6 hr. Factors associated with prolonged impairment of consciousness were compared between these groups. In this study, 42 cases (33 patients), with a mean age of 67.8 years, were included. Fifteen cases (13 patients) and 27 cases (20 patients) were classified into the early and delayed recovery groups, respectively. The populations of older patients and patients from a nursing home were significantly higher in the delayed recovery group. With regard to radiological analyses, a high grade of periventricular hyperintensity (PVH), high Evans index score, and enlarged bilateral atrial widths were significantly associated with prolonged impairment of consciousness. Multivariable analyses showed that a high grade of PVH was significantly associated with delayed recovery of consciousness independent of age and status epilepticus. In conclusion, we proposed that diffuse white matter degeneration around the lateral ventricles contributes to prolonged impairment of consciousness.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type diffuse astrocytic tumors tend to be pathologically diagnosed as glioblastomas (GBMs). We previously reported that myoinositol to total choline (Ins/Cho) ratio in GBMs on magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy was significantly lower than that in IDH-mutant gliomas. We then hypothesized that a low Ins/Cho ratio is a poor prognosis factor in patients with GBMs, IDH-wild-type. In the present study, we calculated the Ins/Cho ratios of patients with GBMs and investigated their progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) to determine their utility as prognostic marker. We classified patients with GBMs harboring wild-type IDH (n = 27) into two groups based on the Ins/Cho ratio, and compared patient backgrounds, pathological findings, PFS, OS, and copy number aberrations between the high and low Ins/Cho groups. Patients with GBMs in the low Ins/Cho ratio group indicated shorter PFS (P = 0.021) and OS (P = 0.048) than those in the high Ins/Cho group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the Ins/Cho ratio was significantly correlated with PFS (hazard ratio 0.24, P = 0.028). In conclusion, the preoperative Ins/Cho ratio can be used as a novel potential prognostic factor for GBM, IDH-wild-type.

<title>Abstract</title>Seizures are common in patients with gliomas; however, the mechanisms of epileptogenesis in gliomas have not been fully understood. This study hypothesized that analyzing quantified metabolites using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) might provide novel insights to better understand the epileptogenesis in gliomas, and specific metabolites might be indicators of preoperative seizures in gliomas. We retrospectively investigated patient information (gender, age at diagnosis of tumor, their survival time) and tumor information (location, histology, genetic features, and metabolites according to MRS) in patients with gliomas. The data were correlated with the incidence of seizure and analyzed statistically. Of 146 adult supratentorial gliomas, <italic>isocitrate dehydrogenase</italic> (<italic>IDH</italic>) mutant tumors significantly indicated higher incidence of preoperative seizures than <italic>IDH</italic> wild-type gliomas. However, MRS study indicated that glutamate concentration in <italic>IDH</italic> wild-type gliomas was higher than that in <italic>IDH</italic> mutant gliomas. Glutamate was not associated with high frequency of preoperative seizures in patients with gliomas. Instead, increased total <italic>N</italic>-acetyl-<sc>l</sc>-aspartate (tNAA) was significantly associated with them. Moreover, multivariable analysis indicated that increased level of tNAA was an independent predictor of preoperative seizures. According to MRS analysis, tNAA, rather than glutamate, might be a useful to detect preoperative seizures in patient with supratentorial gliomas.

Abstract Background: Although high dose-methotrexate therapy has been performed for primary central nervous system malignant lymphoma (PCNSL), R-MPV (rituximab, methotrexate (MTX), procarbazine and vincristine) therapy is currently the first line therapy for (PCNSL) in our hospital. This study examines the results of R-MPV therapy comparing with past treatment. Method/Subjects: Thirty-seven patients treated at our hospital from 2009 to 2020 were included. Overall survival time, progression free survival time, and toxicities were evaluated. Results: The average age of patients was 65.7 years. Patients included 21 males and 16 females. Thirty-six patients were diagnosed DLBCL by resected brain tumor tissues, and one was diagnosed DLBCL by vitreous biopsy. As initial treatment, rituximab±HD-MTX therapy (R±MTX group) was performed in 20 cases, HD-MTX therapy plus radiation (R±MTX+RT group) was performed in 12 cases, and RMPV therapy was performed in 5 cases (R-MPV group). Median OS of all cases was 69 months and median PFS was 38 months. Median OS was 69 months in R±MTX group and could not be calculated in R±MTX+RT, and R-MPV groups. Median PFS was 16 months and 56 months in R±MTX group and R±MTX+RT, respectively, and could not be calculated in the R-MPV group. Although the R-MPV group had a short follow-up period, the results were considered to be comparable to those of the R±MTX+RT group. On the other hand, grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 50%, 25%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: R-MPV therapy may delay the timing of radiation and reduce the amount of radiation. On the other hand, the frequency of adverse events is high, and more strict management of treatment is required.

<title>Abstract</title> <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> The extent of resection has been reported to be associated with overall survival in gliomas. The use of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been recognized to increase the extent of tumor resection. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> To evaluate what factors affect the intraoperative fluorescence after administration of 5-ALA in gliomas. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> Correlation of intraoperative fluorescence and several clinical, radiographic, molecular biologic, and histopathologic characters was retrospectively evaluated in 104 patients (53 males and 51 females; mean age 54.2 yr) with gliomas at our institution. To clarify the mechanisms that mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) affect the intraoperative fluorescence, in Vitro experiments using genetically engineered glioma cells harboring mutant IDH1 were performed. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> Intraoperative fluorescence was observed in 82 patients (78.8%). In addition to age, magnetic resonance imaging enhancement, World Health Organization grades, and MIB-1 index, the status of IDH was revealed to be correlated with intraoperative fluorescence. In Vitro assay revealed that mutant IDH indirectly reduced the amount of exogenous 5-ALA-derived protoporphyrinogen IX in glioma cells by increasing activity of ferrochelatase and heme oxygenase 1. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSION</title> Mutant IDH1/2-induced metabolite changes of exogenous 5-ALA were suggested to contribute to the lesser intraoperative fluorescence in gliomas with mutant IDH1/2 than in those without. </sec>

Background Although a subdural fluid collection frequently is observed, diagnostic methods that differentiate between the subdural collection caused by external hydrocephalus and that caused by subdural hygroma have not been established. Here, we report a case of external hydrocephalus caused by Gliadel-induced eosinophilic meningitis that has been previously reported in only 1 case and can be diagnosed by time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging (time-SLIP MRI). Case Description A tumor located in the left temporal was detected incidentally in an 81-year-old man by examination of a head injury. The tumor was surgically resected and diagnosed as a high-grade glioma during the surgery Gliadel wafers subsequently were implanted. Three weeks after the resection, the patient showed disturbed consciousness, and computed tomography revealed a subdural fluid collection. The out-flow of cerebrospinal through the resection cavity was detected by time-SLIP MRI. Cerebrospinal tests indicated high white blood cell counts and high protein levels, with more than 90% of the white blood cell count comprising eosinophils. Therefore, we suspected that the subdural fluid collection was caused by external hydrocephalus because of Gliadel-induced eosinophilic meningitis. We surgically removed the Gliadel wafers and subsequently performed a surgery to insert a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Histologic examination indicated eosinophilic accumulation around the Gliadel wafers. The patient's symptoms improved after the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Conclusions In the present case, time-SLIP MRI was a useful and noninvasive method for diagnosing external hydrocephalus which was caused by eosinophilic meningitis because of Gliadel-induced eosinophilic meningitis.

Brainstem glioma is impossible to resect completely, and patients with this type of glioma show a poor prognosis. Therefore, a more effective adjuvant therapy is required to prolong survival. Bevacizumab is an endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody with strong anti-vascular effects, which may suppress tumor progression. We performed a retrospective study of data from 6 patients with brainstem glioma showing malignant features who were treated with bevacizumab. Tumor-associated lesions, as evaluated by T2 weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery magnetic resonance imaging, were reduced in all patients, although the timing of the start of bevacizumab administration and pretreatment were not uniform. Clinical symptoms improved in 4 patients and progression was inhibited in 2 patients. The Karnofsky performance status improved from 56.7 to 71.7 on average. The median reduction ratio of tumor-associated lesions was 76.3%, but tumor suppression did not last in any of the cases. Furthermore, 5 patients died of tumor progression, and 1 patient died of a complication of necrotizing colitis. The median progression-free survival after bevacizumab administration was 7 months. The median overall survival after diagnosis was 16.5 months. Bevacizumab might be a potential therapeutic option for progressive brainstem gliomas with malignant features.

Background and objective In patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH), intravenous nicardipine is primarily used to lower blood pressure (BP). However, there are few studies investigating the role of oral antihypertensives administered after intravenous nicardipine to prevent BP from rising. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may be beneficial in HICH patients not only as antihypertensives but also by lowering plasma catecholamine levels. A prospective randomized study was conducted between January 2015 and March 2016 to comparatively evaluate the efficacy of two ARBs (azilsartan vs. candesartan) following intravenous nicardipine administration on BP reduction. Patients and methods Thirty conscious HICH patients presenting within 6 h of symptom onset were enrolled (15 in each arm). After administering intravenous nicardipine for 24-48 h, the patients were randomized either to the azilsartan (20 mg) arm or to the candesartan (8 mg) arm. Frequency of hematoma expansion, 30-day modified Rankin scale, and temporal profiles of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and plasma norepinephrine/aldosterone were compared. Results Substantial hematoma expansion occurred in two (13%) azilsartan patients and in one (7%) candesartan patient (P=1.00). SBPs were maintained at lower than 140 +/- 20 mmHg in both arms. Neither SBPs nor plasma norepinephrine/aldosterone levels differed significantly. All 30 patients had 30-day modified Rankin scale scores of 1-2. Conclusion Administration of ARBs following intravenous nicardipine effectively prevented BP from rising in HICH patients. However, whether BP should be strictly managed after 24 h of symptom onset should be addressed in future studies focusing not only on neurologic but also on cardiovascular and renal functions of HICH patients. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Recent progress in neuro-oncology has validated the significance of genetic diagnosis in gliomas. We previously investigated IDH1/2 and TP53 mutations via Sanger sequencing for adult supratentorial gliomas and reported that PCR-based sequence analysis classified gliomas into three genetic subgroups that have a strong association with patient prognosis: IDH mutant gliomas without TP53 mutations, IDH and TP53 mutant gliomas, and IDH wild-type gliomas. Furthermore, this analysis had a strong association with patient prognosis. To predict genetic subgroups prior to initial surgery, we retrospectively investigated preoperative radiological data using CT and MRI, including MR spectroscopy (MRS), and evaluated positive 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence as an intraoperative factor. We subsequently compared these factors to differentiate each genetic subgroup. Multiple factors such as age at diagnosis, tumor location, gadolinium enhancement, 5-ALA fluorescence, and several tumor metabolites according to MRS, such as myo-inositol (myo-inositol/total choline) or lipid20, were statistically significant factors for differentiating IDH mutant and wild-type, suggesting that these two subtypes have totally distinct characteristics. In contrast, only calcification, laterality, and lipid13 (lipid13/total Choline) were statistically significant parameters for differentiating TP53 wild-type and mutant in IDH mutant gliomas. In this study, we detected several pre- and intraoperative factors that enabled us to predict genetic subgroups for adult supratentorial gliomas and clarified that lipid13 quantified by MRS is the key tumor metabolite that differentiates TP53 wild-type and mutant in IDH mutant gliomas. These results suggested that each genetic subtype in gliomas selects the distinct lipid synthesis pathways in the process of tumorigenesis.

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HPM) is a rare disease characterized by progressive chronic inflammatory fibrosis and thickening of the dura mater with resultant compression of the brain and/or spinal cord. HPM developing at the craniocervical junction is extremely rare, with less than 10 cases reported in the literature. The onset and evolution of clinical symptoms in those patients were mostly gradual, and few visited the emergency department with acute manifestations. Here, we describe the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented to our emergency department with complaints of cough, wheezing, hoarseness, dysphagia, and throat pain. Despite the fact that acute epiglottitis was initially suspected, neurological examination revealed that her symptoms were due to lower cranial nerve palsy, and using magnetic resonance imaging, a diagnosis of HPM at the craniocervical junction was established. Although rare, it is important to differentiate noninfectious inflammatory diseases in the craniocervical junction, such as HPM, in patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms suggestive of acute epiglottitis.

Grade V subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) patients may be dichotomised into those with temporary deterioration and those with irreversible injury, and only the former have a chance of favourable outcomes by aneurysm obliteration. One method of differentiating the two conditions is to wait and observe potential recovery for 12-48 hours. However, early rebleeding and non-convulsive seizures may occur during this period. In our institution, grade V SAH patients receive immediate treatment (general anaesthesia induction and aneurysm obliteration within 24 hours of onset) to minimise those risks. We focused on therapeutic outcomes in SAH patients presenting with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 (GCS-3). Between January 2006 and December 2013, 82 GCS-3 SAH patients were admitted, among whom 51 (62%) underwent immediate aneurysm obliteration. Their outcomes 90 days after onset were evaluated with the Glasgow Outcome Scale, with either good recovery or moderate disability regarded as favourable outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables correlated with favourable outcomes. Among the 51 patients, 11 (22%) had favourable 90-day outcomes. Age (odds ratio [OR], 0.838; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.733-0.959; p = 0.010) and intact pupillary light reflex (OR, 21.939; 95% CI, 1.465-328.576; p = 0.025) were correlated with favourable outcomes. By contrast, neither intact respiratory pattern nor isocoric pupils was correlated with favourable outcomes. The current results indicate that vigorous intervention may be worth attempting in young GCS-3 SAH patients with intact pupillary light reflex. It remains unclear, however, whether the seemingly high frequency of favourable outcomes was truly due to reduction in early rebleeding or seizures. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Recent investigations revealed genetic analysis provides important information in management of gliomas, and we previously reported grade II-III gliomas could be classified into clinically relevant subgroups based on the DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs). To develop more precise genetic subgrouping, we investigated the correlation between CNAs and mutational status of the gene encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) of those tumors. We analyzed the IDH status and CNAs of 174 adult supratentorial gliomas of astrocytic or oligodendroglial origin by PCR-based direct sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization, respectively. We analyzed the relationship between genetic subclassification and clinical features. We found the most frequent aberrations in IDH mutant tumors were the combined whole arm-loss of 1p and 19q (1p/19q codeletion) followed by gain on chromosome arm 7q (+7q). The gain of whole chromosome 7 (+7) and loss of 10q (-10q) were detected in IDH wild-type tumors. Kaplan-Meier estimates for progression-free survival showed that the tumors with mutant IDH, -1p/19q, or +7q (in the absence of +7p) survived longer than tumors with wild-type IDH, +7, or -10q. As tumors with +7 (IDH wild-type) showed a more aggressive clinical nature, they are probably not a subtype that developed from the slowly progressive tumors with +7q (IDH mutant). Thus, tumors with a gain on chromosome 7 (mostly astrocytic) comprise multiple lineages, and such differences in their biological nature should be taken into consideration during their clinical management.

Patient outcomes following grade V subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) have been dismal, although they may have improved following recent technological advances in endovascular treatment (EVT). A single-centre, retrospective study was conducted to evaluate whether outcomes have improved from 2000 to 2014 for patients with World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade V SAH. Coiling has been the preferred first-line treatment for grade V SAH patients in our institution since 2000. Patients who underwent EVT (n = 115) were grouped on the basis of their hospital admission year: 2000-2004 (n = 44), 2005-2009 (n = 37) and 2010-2014 (n = 34). Patient demographics, outcomes and in-hospital mortality rates were compared between the groups. Patient outcomes at discharge were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), with GOS scores of 4-5 defined as favourable outcomes. There were no significant intergroup differences in patient demographics. In addition, there were no significant differences in the frequencies of favourable outcomes (14% in 2000-2004,16% in 2005-2009 and 26% in 2010-2014). Mortality rates were 52% in 2000-2004, 43% in 2005-2009 and 24% in 2010-2014, with a significantly lower mortality rate in 2010-2014 than in 2000-2004 (p = 0.01). Both perioperative rebleeding and delayed cerebral ischaemia decreased over time; however, multivariate regression analysis showed that the former contributed more to the decrease in mortality. Age was the only variable associated with favourable outcomes. The results of this study indicate that EVT is an appropriate therapeutic option for grade V SAH patients. However, multi-centre, prospective trials are required to provide evidence-based verification of the efficacy of EVT. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

There are no guidelines regarding the optimal treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients complicated by Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). Although coiling has been favored as the first-line treatment, clipping may also be indicated in patients with ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms or in those with massive intracerebral hemorrhage. The study objective is (1) to report the feasibility/safety of clipping/coiling and (2) to identify possible prognosticators in that population. Between January 2008 and December 2014, 371 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH underwent transthoracic echocardiography after admission, and 30 with TCM (7.7 %) were identified. We reviewed the incidence and type of perioperative complications among clipped (n = 11) and coiled (n = 19) patients. The 30 patients were dichotomized based on their 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores into favorable (mRS: 0-2) and unfavorable (mRS: 3-6) groups, and their demographic, laboratory and echocardiographic variables were compared. Neither clipped nor coiled patients developed serious perioperative cardiopulmonary complications, but coiled patients had a higher incidence of fatal procedure-related complications. Among the 30 patients, 13 (43 %) had favorable 90-day outcomes, and the favorable group was significantly younger. Age, but not the degree of cardiac dysfunction, correlated with outcomes by multivariate regression analysis. Clipping was shown to be a safe treatment modality in our cohort, and treatment selection may better be made on a case-by-case basis in most patients with SAH-induced TCM. The lack of correlation between the degree of cardiac dysfunction and outcomes indicates that aggressive intervention is justified in patients with severely impaired cardiac function.

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage at C1-2 poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to spine surgeons. Although computed tomography (CT) myelography has been the diagnostic imaging modality of choice for identifying the CSF leakage point, extradural CSF collection at C1-2 on conventional CT myelography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may often be a false localizing sign. Case Description: The present study reports the successful application of time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (T-SLIP) MRI, which enabled the precise identification of the CSF leakage point at C1-2 in a 28-year-old woman with intractable SIH. After identifying the leakage point using both CT myelography and T-SLIP MRI, surgery was performed to seal the CSF leak. Intraoperatively, a pouch suggestive of an extradural arachnoid cyst around the left C2 nerve root was found, which was repaired by packing the pouch with muscle and fibrin glue. Clinical improvement was observed shortly after surgery, and postoperative imaging revealed the disappearance of the CSF leakage. Conclusions: T-SLIP MRI may provide useful information on the flow dynamics of CSF in SIH patients due to high-flow leakage. However, further experience is required to assess its sensitivity and specificity as an imaging modality for identifying CSF leakage points.

Genetic subgrouping of gliomas has been emphasized recently, particularly after the finding of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations. In a previous study, we investigated whole-chromosome copy number aberrations (CNAs) of gliomas and have described genetic subgrouping based on CNAs and IDH1 mutations. Subsequently, we classified gliomas using simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods to improve the availability of genetic subgrouping. We selected IDH1/2 and TP53 as markers and analyzed 237 adult supratentorial gliomas using Sanger sequencing. Using these markers, we classified gliomas into three subgroups that were strongly associated with patient prognoses. These included IDH mutant gliomas without TP53 mutations, IDH mutant gliomas with TP53 mutations, and IDH wild-type gliomas. IDH mutant gliomas without TP53 mutations, which mostly corresponded to gliomas carrying 1p19q co-deletions, showed lower recurrence rates than the other 2 groups. In the other high-recurrence groups, the median progression- free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with IDH mutant gliomas with TP53 mutations were significantly longer than those of patients with IDH wild-type gliomas. Notably, most IDH mutant gliomas with TP53 mutations had at least one of the CNAs +7q, +8q, -9p, and -11p. Moreover, IDH mutant gliomas with at least one of these CNAs had a significantly worse prognosis than did other IDH mutant gliomas. PCR-based mutation analyses of IDH and TP53 were sufficient for simple genetic diagnosis of glioma that were strongly associated with prognosis of patients and enabled us to detect negative CNAs in IDH mutant gliomas.

The objective of this study was to report the frequency and clinical characteristics of early rebleeding in subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) patients who underwent intensive blood pressure (BP) management. Patients with aneurysmal SAH frequently present to the emergency department (ED) with elevated BP. Intensive BP management has been recommended to lower the risk of early rebleeding. However, few studies have reported the frequency of early rebleeding in SAH patients undergoing BP management. In our institution, SAH patients with systolic BP (SBP) &gt; 140 mmHg received continuous intravenous nicardipine to maintain their SBP within 120 20 mmHg after diagnosis. An attempt to implement intensive BP management was made on 309 consecutive SAH patients who presented to our ED within 48 hours of SAH onset. Overall, 24 (7.8%) of the 309 patients sustained early rebleeding. Fifteen patients sustained early rebleeding before the implementation of BP management, and the other nine sustained early rebleeding after the implementation of BP management. Therefore, the frequency of early rebleeding under BP management was 3.1% (9/294). When the 309 patients were dichotomised using ED SBP of 140 mmHg as a cut off (SBP &gt; 140 mmHg; n = 239 versus SBP &lt;= 140 mmHg; n = 70), the latter counter-intuitively exhibited a significantly higher frequency of early rebleeding (5.9% versus 14.2%; p = 0.04). This relatively low frequency of early rebleeding under BP management may be acceptable. However, early rebleeding is not eradicated even with strict BP control as factors other than elevated BP are involved. ED SBP within the target range (SBP &lt;= 140 mmHg) does not negate the risk of early rebleeding. Other treatment options that reduce the risk should also be explored. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of clipping unruptured cerebral aneurysms. We conducted a study to identify the patients who are at risk of developing postoperative CSDH. The data from 713 consecutive patients who underwent clipping of unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms were reviewed, and risk factors correlated with CSDH were identified by multivariate regression analysis of demographic variables. Fifteen patients (2.1%) developed CSDH after the surgery. Advanced age (odds ratio [OR] 1.151, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.051-1.261) and male gender (OR 3.167, 95% CI 1.028-9.751) were correlated with CSDH. Subsequently, all 713 patients were quadrichotomized on the basis of gender and age, with 70 years as the cut-off value for age. The frequency of CSDH in men &lt;70 years of age was 1.3% and that in men 70 years of age was 15.1%, with risk of CSDH was significantly higher in the older men (OR 13.39; 95% CI: 3.42-52.44). The frequency of CSDH in women &lt;70 years of age was 0.6% and that in women &gt;= 70 years of age was 3.7%. As in men, the risk of CSDH was significantly higher in the older women (OR 6.69, 95% CI 1.10-40.73). The interval between the aneurysm clipping and CSDH development was 0.5-6 months, suggesting that clinical observation should be continued up to 6 months after surgery. Although prognosis for patients with a. postoperative CSDH complication is generally favourable, the risk of CSDH should be taken into account when considering elective clipping of unruptured aneurysms in patients &gt;= 70 years of age. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.