Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Petroclival Meningioma: Long-Term Outcome and Failure Pattern
Written by Dom Mahoney, MS
Without sufficient cytoreduction, petroclival meningiomas often recur, whilst cases in which total resection has been achieved are frequently associated with significant morbidity. In this study, the authors investigated the long-term effects of gamma knife radiosurgery in controlling these tumours. The sample consisted of 89 patients, 58 of whom underwent gamma knife radiosurgery as a primary treatment, whilst the remaining 31 underwent irradiation as an adjuvant therapy to surgery. The authors found that gamma knife was associated with significant disease suppression and control of tumour volume in the majority of the sample, concluding that this platform is a valuable adjunct to the management of petroclival meningiomas. However, large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm these findings and motivate real change in practice.
Link to the article
Skull base surgery of the Orbit and Cavernous Sinus
Written by Anatoli DimitrovA key consideration to successful complex skull base surgery is the anatomy. Tailoring the approach towards every single lesion defines the flow of the surgery. The ability to operate successfully within cavernous sinus and around the orbit largely depends on an improved understanding of the anatomy and pathology in the parasellar region. Dr. Johnny Delashaw explains in detail every single structure on the way to the lesion and how to deal with it without harming nearby vessels and nerves.
Skull Base Congress is a global community of skull base surgeons with a principal objective to facilitate the exchange of educational resources about skull base surgery. After the website registration (basic profile available for free or premium) the user can interact with all the members and have access to different types of materials related to a single clinical case: anatomy spotlight, surgical theatre, quiz and journal club. The aim of Skull Base Congress is to make the learning process fun and effective.
The Transcondylar Approach to Access Symptomatic Arachnoid Cysts of the Hypoglossal Canal
Written by Dom Mahoney, MS
Arachnoid cysts are typically asymptomatic incidental findings, with an estimated prevalence of 2.3%. They are thought to arise from a congenital splitting of the arachnoid mater with CSF subsequently filling this space. Arachnoid cysts are most frequently found in the middle fossa, and may be stratified according to the Galassi classification. In this article, the authors present two cases of women presenting with dysphagia, dysarthria, and tongue weakness and atrophy. MRI confirmed the diagnosis of arachnoid cyst of the hypoglossal canal, and both patients underwent surgical resection. The lesion was approached via the ipsilateral occipital condyle - this is the first report of such an approach being used to access arachnoid cysts of the occipital condyle.
Author:
Robert F. Spetzler, M. Yashar S. Kalani, Peter Nakaji
Editor:
Thieme
Publication date:
June 2015
Description:
This book covers all the aspects related to neurovascular pathologies and their neurosurgical and endovascular treatment. The spectrum of neurovascular pathologies treated includes: ischaemic stroke and vascular insufficiency, cerebral and spinal arteriovenous fistulae and malformations, aneurysms, vascular tumors and more. For each pathology underlying science and clinical applications are described. “Neurovascular Surgery” is a fundamental reading for all general, vascular and endovascular neurosurgeons.
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The Comprehensive Clinical Neurosurgery Review (CCN)
Written by Anatoli DimitrovNov 27 – Dec 02, 2017
Krakow, Poland
CCN is designed to review neurosurgery in the most dynamic and interactive manner, based on case management led by world experts. The course will offer up to date review of both clinical and basic science in a non didactic style. Started in 2013, this is the fifth CCN Review course with a huge success in the past four years.
This course is mainly designed for established neurosurgeons and senior trainees. Seasoned neurosurgeons and junior trainees will find this course as an excellent refresher and a practical review of neurosurgery.
The course aims to help participants focus on examination-relevant topics, while deepening their understanding of materials through lectures, discussions and critique. It will provide an excellent preparation for challenging oral board exams such as the Royal College (British,Canadian), EANS and the American board exams or oral boards in your respective countries.
Click here to see the official website
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: a review
Written by Dom Mahoney, MSSpinal dural AV fistulae are a complicated pathology to diagnose and treat. Less invasive imaging modalities are providing improved resolution for the detection of these lesions, however clinical presentations remain diverse.
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Neurovascular Exchange is a robust online platform including news, presentations and videos concerning neurointervention. This resource is aimed at health care providers at various levels of training. Everyone can submit procedural videos or presentations for publication and this is a unique feature of this website. The education section provides access to several courses about neurovascular procedures.
Dealing with arteriovenous malformation (AVMs), although these are vascular lesions like aneurysms, is way different and far more difficult than clipping an aneurysm. Having the right strategy is crucial for the successful end. Dr. Michael Lawton reveals tenets and techniques gained during his long experience in vascular neurosurgery. Understanding the organization of each AVM depending on its location in brain is of utmost importance. That is why Dr. Lawton categorized AVMs to seven types and explain approaches to each one of them.
Intracranial Bypass of Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms: Indications, Technical Aspects, and Clinical Outcomes
Written by Dom Mahoney, MS
Due to the tortuous path described by the vessel, PICA aneurysms present a particular challenge. In this article the authors describe the clinical features and surgical techniques used in the management of 7 complex PICA aneurysms.
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Head Injury 2Ed: Pathophysiology & Management
Written by Edoardo Agosti, MS
AUTHOR:
P Reilly, R Bullock
EDITOR:
CRC Press, 2005
This book offers a systematic evaluation of traumatic brain injury, trying to tackle the most difficult and challenging management problems facing clinicians in the management of traumatic brain injury. Inside there are several sections devoted to various aspects of traumatic brain injury, as classification of mechanisms of injury, classification of traumatic brain injury, physiological mechanisms involved in neuronal damage, measuring and monitoring the injury, pediatric head injury, missile wounds, outcome prediction, brain death, treatment. Detailed guidelines-based management algorithms are provided in the appendices.
Location: New Dehli, India
Neurotrauma (head and spinal injuries) remains a forefront contributor to high mortality and morbidity globally. Department of Neurosurgery at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi has taken the initiative to hold an update conference on recent advances in neurotrauma care annually for the last five years.
Groups of experts from all over the world will come together to share their experience in managing neurotrauma cases, discuss research and recent updates. The theme of this year is “Bridging Gap between Basic and Advanced Neurotrauma Care”.
This year, the event is more unique as it will be preceded by First AONeuro Seminar-Neurotrauma symposium (26th-27th October 2017) at AIIMS, New Delhi. This symposium will discuss at length updates on TBI in extremes of age. Faculty for this event range from WFNS president, TRACK TBI leaders and neurotrauma experts from the top centres of USA, Australia, Korea, Italy and many other countries. This course covers the current best strategies and considerations for managing neurotrauma patients. It features an international faculty of experts and is based on the competencies defined in AONeuro’s new neurotrauma curriculum. The course content is delivered using multiple educational methods. Comprehensive lectures concentrate on the understanding of core material. Interactive case presentations will further deepen this knowledge and facilitate the discussion in trauma management. Newly developed practical exercises enable participants to apply AO principles in the management of common injuries. Case-based discussions link the lecture material and practical skills with the clinical problems commonly encountered in everyday practice.
http://www.aiimsneurotrauma.com/
Classification and surgical approaches for transnasal endoscopic skull base chordoma resection: a 6-year experience with 161 cases
Written by Dom Mahoney, MSAs is the case with many other tumours, the extent of resection of chordoma has been seen to correlate directly with prognosis. Surgical approach to these lesions is complicated due to their proximity to numerous critical neurovascular structures, however endonasal approaches are becoming more popular. Existing classification systems are based primarily on considering the requirements of open microsurgery. The authors of this article retrospectively reviewed 161 patients that underwent endonasal resection of chordomas at their unit, in order to develop a more endonasal-specific system of classification.
They describe a system of classifying endonasally approached chordomas based on their location. This system has the benefit of being more applicable to endonasal surgeries. Although the total and subtotal resection rates between tumours of the different classifications are described as ‘significant’, it is unclear whether this refers to statistical significance. The method will require further validation in larger studies before it can be fully adopted.
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(DOI: 10.1007/s10143-015-0696-1)
AOSpine: a community of spine surgeons
Written by Giorgio Saraceno, MS
AOSpine is a community of spine surgeons from all over the world with the aim to generating, distributing, and exchanging knowledge in the field of spinal pathologies.
AOSpine activities are focused on three major key points: education, research and community development. On the first point, AOSpine set up courses, symposia and academic congresses addressed to different types of surgeons. AOSpine Research is focused on generation of evidenced-based recommendations and clinical studies through the AOSpine Research Network and the AOSpine Knowledge Forums. AOSpine Membership make it possible both to facilitate knowledge access and promote knowledge exchange thanks to a global community of surgeons passionate about scientific advance.
VISIT THE WEBSITE