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J Neurosurg 2021 May 14:1-13. Epub 2021 May 14.

Departments of1Neurosurgery and.

Objective: Status epilepticus (SE) is associated with significant mortality, cost, and risk of future seizures. In one of the first studies of SE after neurosurgery, the authors assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of postneurosurgical SE (PNSE).

Methods: Neurosurgical admissions from the MarketScan Claims and Encounters database (2007 through 2015) were assessed in a longitudinal cross-sectional sample of privately insured patients who underwent qualifying cranial procedures in the US and were older than 18 years of age. Read More

Neurosurg Rev 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Integrated Oncology (CIO) Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.

Surgical resection is highly effective in the treatment of tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) in patients with brain metastases (BM). Nevertheless, some patients suffer from postoperative persistent epilepsy which negatively impacts health-related quality of life. Therefore, early identification of patients with potentially unfavorable seizure outcome after BM resection is important. Read More

Acta Biomed 2021 May 12;92(2):e2021107. Epub 2021 May 12.

PEDIATRICIAN ONCOLOGIST.

Ependymomas are glial neoplasms of central nervous system originated from the ependymal lining of the brain ventricles and spinal cord central canal, and rarely exfoliated into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this case we report the cytomorphological and immunocytomorphological features of ependymoma in CSF and intraoperative squash preparations, confirmed by histology. Case report. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2021 Apr;9(8):694

Department of Neurosurgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Background: Lung cancer is the most aggressive cancer, resulting in one-quarter of all cancer-related deaths, and its metastatic spread accounts for >70% of these deaths, especially metastasis to the brain. Metastasis-associated mutations are important biomarkers for metastasis prediction and outcome improvement.

Methods: In this study, we applied whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify potential metastasis-related mutations in 12 paired lung cancer and brain metastasis samples. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2021 Apr;9(8):648

Neuro-Oncology Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-ICO L'Hospitalet (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain.

Background: The significance of upfront systemic therapies as an alternative to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for multiple brain metastases (BM) is debatable. Our purpose is to investigate if peritumoral edema could predict the intracranial response to systemic chemotherapy (chemo) in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-SQ-NSCLC) and synchronous multiple BM.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we evaluated the outcome of 28 patients with multiple BM (≥3) treated with chemo based on cisplatin/carboplatin plus pemetrexed (chemo, group A, n=17) or WBRT plus subsequent chemo (group B, n=11). Read More

Ann Transl Med 2021 Apr;9(7):562

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Background: Prophylactic cranial irradiation has been shown to reduce brain metastases and provide survival benefits in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, its role in limited-stage SCLC patients after surgery remains unclear. Further, it is unknown whether the effect of prophylactic cranial irradiation is generalizable in these patients with different pathological nodal (N0-N2) stages, a state indicating the presence of tumor metastases. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021 Apr 20;206:106645. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang, Indonesia. Electronic address:

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the latest evidence on the hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (HF-SRS) compared to single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SF-SRS) for the treatment of brain metastases.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EuropePMC, ProQuest, and Cochrane Central Databases. Original research articles investigating patients with brain metastasis receiving HF-SRS or SF-SRS reporting the local control/failure and/or radionecrosis during follow-up were included. Read More

JAMA Oncol 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco.

Importance: Owing to the proximity to critical neurologic structures, treatment options for brainstem metastases (BSM) are limited, and BSM growth can cause acute morbidity or death. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the only local therapy for BSM, but efficacy and safety of this approach are incompletely understood because patients with BSM are excluded from most clinical trials.

Objective: To perform a systematic review and comparative meta-analysis of SRS studies for BSM in the context of prospective trials of SRS or molecular therapy for nonbrainstem brain metastases (BM). Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021 May 13. Epub 2021 May 13.

Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer, but PTX resistance often occurs in metastatic breast cancer. In addition, due to the poor targeting of chemotherapeutic drugs and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), it is hard to effectively treat brain metastatic breast cancer using paclitaxel. Thus, it is urgent to develop an effective drug delivery system for the treatment of brain metastatic breast cancer. Read More

Gastrointest Tumors 2021 Apr 18;8(2):58-62. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Department of General Surgery, AIIMS, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Hepatic EHE (epithelioid hemangioendothelioma) is an uncommon entity of vascular origin and a low-grade malignant tumor. Primary hepatic EHE is rare. These tumors can be multifocal at presentation like in the soft tissues, bones, brain, liver, and small intestine. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 26;11:662260. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.

Neuro-oncology biobanks are critical for the implementation of a precision medicine program. In this perspective, we review our first year experience of a brain tumor biobank with integrated next generation sequencing. From our experience, we describe the critical role of the neurosurgeon in diagnosis, research, and precision medicine efforts. Read More

Breast Cancer Res 2021 May 12;23(1):54. Epub 2021 May 12.

The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, GCIS W421C, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.

Background: Endocrine therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Constitutively active mutations in the ligand binding domain of ERα render tumors resistant to endocrine agents. Breast cancers with the two most common ERα mutations, Y537S and D538G, have low sensitivity to fulvestrant inhibition, a typical second-line endocrine therapy. Read More

Thyroid 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

Brain metastases (BM) from differentiated thyroid cancer are rare. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is commonly used for the treatment of BMs; however, the experience with SRS for thyroid cancer BMs remains limited. The goal of this international, multi-centered study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SRS for thyroid cancer BMs. Read More

Rev Col Bras Cir 2021 7;48:e20202722. Epub 2021 May 7.

- Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Neurocirurgia - ISCMSP, SP, Brasil.

The anesthesia for awake craniotomy (AC) is a consecrated anesthetic technique that has been perfected over the years. Initially used to map epileptic foci, it later became the standard technique for the removal of glial neoplasms in eloquent brain areas. We present an AC anesthesia technique consisting of three primordial times, called awake-asleep-awake, and their respective particularities, as well as delve into the anesthetic medications used. Read More

Ann Palliat Med 2021 Apr 26. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Limited brain metastases refer to an oligometastatic state in the brain for which focal therapy with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is appropriate. The definition of what is considered "limited" for brain metastases, however, is not well defined. Multiple recent randomized trials show that metastasis-directed therapy with surgery or stereotactic radiation can prolong survival for patients with 1-5 metastases from various primary tumors, but patients with untreated brain metastases were largely excluded from these trials. Read More

Cureus 2021 Apr 8;13(4):e14373. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Disease, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, CHN.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft tissue malignancies that can occur in any part of the body. The most common sites are the proximal limbs and trunk. Intracranial MPNSTs are rare; most originate from the auditory, trigeminal, and other cranial nerves, and occurrence within the brain parenchyma is rarer. Read More

Case Rep Oncol 2021 Jan-Apr;14(1):487-492. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) commonly presents with metastasis to the brain. When brain metastases are treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), longitudinal imaging to monitor treatment response may identify radiation necrosis, metastasis progression, and/or another primary brain malignancy. A 60-year-old female with metastatic NSCLC involving the brain underwent treatment with systemic therapy and SRS. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2021 Apr;48(4):596-598

Dept. of Gastroenterological Surgery, Toho University Omori Medical Center.

The case is a 59‒year‒old woman. A detailed examination of fecal occult blood revealed a diagnosis of cStage Ⅳ sigmoid colon cancer cT3N1M1b(liver H2, hilar liver and celiac artery lymph nodes). After excision of the primary lesion, decided to give chemotherapy. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2021 Apr;48(4):486-492

Dept. of Thoracic Oncology, Kobe Minimally Invasive Cancer Center.

Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)frequently develops both brain metastases and bone metastases. Considering the negative effects on quality of life(QOL), it is essential to manage properly these metastases. In patients with limited‒disease(LD) SCLC who have a good response to chemoradiotherapy, prophylactic cranial irradiation(PCI)is given to decrease brain metastases. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2021 Feb;74(2):112-115

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan.

We herein report a rare case of an antero-basal pulmonary artery that was noticed during left upper lung lobectomy. A 61-year-old man underwent surgery and radiation for a brain tumor, which was diagnosed as a solitary metastasis of the primary lung cancer in the upper lobe of the left lung. He underwent left upper lobectomy for the lung cancer. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2021 May 12;15(1):265. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China.

Background: Primary lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers. The common metastatic sites are the liver, bones, brain, adrenal glands and central nervous system. However, gastrointestinal metastases, particularly esophageal metastases, from lung cancer are rare. Read More

Respir Res 2021 May 11;22(1):145. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Pulmonary, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.241 Huaihai West Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, China.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the difference between brain metastases (BM) and non-brain metastases (non-BM) treated by osimertinib in advanced patients with an acquired EGFR T790M mutation after obtaining first-generation EGFR-TKI resistance.

Methods: A total number of 135 first-generation EGFR-TKI-resistant patients with an acquired EGFR T790M mutation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into BM and non-BM groups. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2021 May 8;151:115-125. Epub 2021 May 8.

Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Immuno-oncology (IO)-based therapies have been approved based on randomised clinical trials, yet a significant proportion of real-world patients are not represented in these trials. We sought to compare the outcomes of trial-ineligible vs. -eligible patients with advanced solid tumours treated with first-line (1L) IO therapy. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Brain Tumor Center, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Departments of Radiology Pediatrics Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, Nationwide Children's Hospital The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH Department of Pathology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.

Extraneural metastases are rare in pediatric high-grade gliomas and little is known about the genomic profiles of tumors that disseminate beyond the central nervous system. We describe a pediatric patient with H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma of the brain and spine with biopsy-confirmed osseous metastases present at diagnosis and suspected metastatic parenchymal pulmonary disease. Several potentially clinically and/or therapeutically relevant genomic alterations were identified, including H3F3A and TP53 mutations as well as MET, CDK6, EMSY, and PIK3CG amplifications. Read More

Brain 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center and Brain Tumor Center, University and University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.

Pro-tumorigenic electrochemical synapses between neurons and brain tumor cells in pre-clinical studies suggest unfavorable effects of epilepsy on patient survival. We investigated associations of epilepsy and survival in three cohorts of brain tumor patients (meningioma, glioblastoma, brain metastases). Cohorts were segregated into three groups for comparative analyses: (i) no epilepsy, (ii) epilepsy without status epilepticus and (iii) status epilepticus. Read More

Curr Opin Neurol 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Purpose Of Review: To highlight some of the recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in terms of acquisition, analysis, and interpretation for primary diagnosis, treatment planning, and surveillance of patients with a brain tumour.

Recent Findings: The rapidly emerging field of radiomics associates large numbers of imaging features with clinical characteristics. In the context of glioma, attempts are made to correlate such imaging features with the tumour genotype, using so-called radiogenomics. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Hospital Organization Toneyama National Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor that grows rapidly and has a poor prognosis. Although no effective treatments have so far been established, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown clinical improvement in some cases of pleomorphic carcinoma. However, pseudoprogression is a major concern for treatment of this carcinoma using ICIs. Read More

Int J Cancer 2021 May 10. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Cancer Research and Basic Medical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.

Brain metastases (BMs) cause morbidity and mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The optimal management of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated NSCLC with BM is debatable. We aimed to investigate the impact of different treatments among patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021 May 9:1-7. Epub 2021 May 9.

Department of Ultrasound, The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.

Objectives: To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of congenital anaplastic astrocytoma, so as to provide diagnostic clues for it. An updated review of the literature was also carried out.

Results: There was a case of fetal anaplastic astrocytoma detected by ultrasound at 37 + 1 weeks of gestation. Read More

Autops Case Rep 2021 Apr 22;11:e2021258. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González", Departamento de Patología y Citología, Monterrey, México.

Congenital medulloblastoma is a rare brain tumor that appears in less than 1% of pediatric patients. Congenital medulloblastoma has a poor prognosis and should be suspected in patients with clinical manifestations of hyporeactivity, slow suction reflexes, and the presence of hydrocephalus. Herein we present the case of a 12-day-old female newborn who developed non-communicative hydrocephalus, hyporeactivity, and hyporeflexia. Read More