Prevalence of Spinal Metastasis in Neurosurgical Procedures: A Descriptive Study

Objective: This study sought to identify the prevalence of operations for spinal epidural neoplastic metastases relative to other spine and neurosurgical operative procedures. Methods: This study was descriptive and involved a retrospective review of data collected from patients who underwent neurosurgeries between February 1997 and January 2015 at a single quaternary hospital. The examined population was distributed across five descriptive categories to perform numerical distributions among neurosurgical operative procedures. Results: A total of 12,802 neurosurgical procedures were identified. These procedures were classified as follows: Skull and brain, 11,192 (87.42%);spinal column and spinal nervous tissue, 1462 (11.42%);and peripheral nerves, 148 (1.16%). Surgical procedures for the 1462 (100%) cases of spinal column and spinal nervous tissue diseases were distributed by nosology as follows: Degenerative intervertebral disk and spondylosis, 768 (52.54%);neoplastic, 279 (19.08%);traumatic, 221 (15.11%);congenital, 163 (11.14%);infectious and inflammatory, 27 (1.85%);and vascular, 4 (0.28%). With respect to the distribution of the 279 (100%) surgical procedures for spinal column and spinal nervous tissue neoplastic diseases, 124 (44.44%) procedures were for intradural neoplasms, and 155 (55.56%) procedures were for epidural spinal column neoplasms. The 155 (100%) operations for epidural neoplastic diseases were distributed into two groups: Primary epidural neoplasms, 42 (27.10%);and secondary epidural neoplasms, 113 (72.90%). Spinal column epidural neoplastic metastases (secondary neoplasms) represented 0.88% of the 12,802 neurosurgical procedures. Conclusions: Surgical procedures for spinal metastasis are uncommon with respect to all neurosurgical operative procedures. Trend analysis reveals an unchanging trend of prevalence for these procedures.

Polymyxin for the treatment of intracranial infections of extensively drug-resistant bacteria in children after neurosurgical operation

Background Increased meningitis caused by extensively drug-resistant bacillary presents a significant challenge in antibiotic selection.The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polymyxin in the treatment of post-neurosurgical meningitis due to the extensively drug-resistant bacillary in children.Methods We performed a retrospective study on post-neurosurgical meningitis caused by the extensively drug-resistant bacillary in children,who were treated with polymyxin for≥3 days.Results Among five post-neurosurgical meningitis cases that were included,the children were infected by Acinetobacter baumannii(n=3),Klebsiella pneumonia(n=l),and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(n=1).The drug susceptibility test showed that they were extensively drug-resistant bacillary.Two patients received intravenous polymyxin E.Three children received intravenous combined with intraventricular injection of polymyxin B.One patient infected by Klebsiella pneumonia eventually died of septic shock.No serious adverse effects of polymyxin were observed.Conclusions Polymyxin is a safe and effective therapy for post-neurosurgical,multidrug-resistant bacillary meningitis in children.

Application of multimodal image fusion technology in brain tumor surgical procedure

Objective: To construct brain tumors and their surrounding anatomical structures through the method of registration, fusion and, three-dimensional(3D) reconstruction based on multimodal image data and to provide the visual information of tumor, skull,brain, and vessels for preoperative evaluation, surgical planning, and function protection.Methods: The image data of computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) were collected from fifteen patients with confirmed brain tumors.We reconstructed brain tumors and their surrounding anatomical structures using Neuro Tech software. Results: The whole 3D structures including tumor, brain surface, skull, and vessels were successfully reconstructed based on the CT and MRI images. Reconstruction image clearly shows the tumor size, location, shape, and the anatomical relationship of tumor and surrounding structures. We can hide any reconstructed images such as skull,brain tissue, blood vessles, or tumors. We also can adjust the color of reconstructed images and rotate images to observe the structures from any direction. Reconstruction of brain and skull can be semi transparent to display the deep structure; reconstruction of the structures can be axial, coronal, and sagittal cutting to show relationship among tumor and surrounding structures. The reconstructed 3D structures clearly depicted the tumor features, such as size, location, and shape, and provided visual information of the spatial relationship among its surrounding structures. Conclusions: The method of registration, fusion, and 3D reconstruction based on multimodal images to provide the visual information is feasible and practical. The reconstructed 3D structures are useful for preoperative assessment, incision design,the choice of surgical approach, tumor resection, and functional protection.

Sphenoid wing meningioma en plaque： report of 37 cases

Background Sphenoid wing meningioma en plaque is a special morphological subgroup of intracranial meningiomas, defined by a carpet-like, soft tissue component that infiltrates the dura and invades the sphenoid wing and orbit associated with a significant hyperostosis. This report summarized our experiences in 37 patients with sphenoid wing meningioma en plaque who had been treated with transcranio-orbital approach surgery. Methods A retrospective study was made on clinical manifestations, neuroradiological features, and operative techniques in 37 patients undergoing transcranio-orbital approach from Sep. 1998 to Apr. 2009. Patients ages： 16 years to 67 years, 45.5 years in average; sex： 15 males, 22 females. Chief complaints were progressive proptosis and visual acuity deficits. All patients were operated on using a fronto-temporal approach with orbital decompression. The extent of tumor resection and postoperative complications were investigated. Results Simpson grade Ⅱ resection was achieved in 9 patients, Simpson grade Ⅲ in 22 patients and Simpson grade Ⅳ in 6 patients. Pathological examination showed 27 （73%） patients were meningothelial meningiomas. After surgery, proptosis improved in all patients, visual acuity improved in 18 patients （69%）. Temporary ophthalmoplegia was found in 8 patients, cerebrospinal fluid leak was found in 1 patient. Duration of follow up was from 3 months to 9 years, tumor recurred in 7 patients, and 5 patients underwent second surgery, including two trans-nasal endoscopic surgeries to resect sphenoid sinus-involved tumor. There were no operation-related deaths or other significant complications. Conclusions Sphenoid wing meningioma en plaque, mainly meningothelial meningiomas, are more likely to produce adjacent hyperostosis and have characteristic radiological appearances. All the hyperostosis bone of the great wing of sphenoid bone should be removed to prevent recurrence. Extensive tumor removal with bony decompression at the orbital apex can produce satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome. Close co-operation between the neurosurgeons and the ophthalmologists is important.