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Am J Clin Oncol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Departments of Radiation Oncology.

Purpose: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9802 has established postoperative radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy sequentially as the new standard of care for patients with high-risk low-grade glioma (LGG) meeting trial criteria. Although this trial investigated sequential chemoradiation therapy (sCRT) with RT followed by chemotherapy, it is unknown whether concurrent chemoradiation therapy (cCRT) may offer advantages over sCRT.

Materials And Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for newly diagnosed World Health Organization (WHO) grade II glioma. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Feb 11;19(1):139. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Neurosurgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.

Background: Intracranial and intraspinal tumours are the most numerous solid tumours in children. Some recently defined subtypes are relatively frequent in childhood. Many cancer registries routinely ascertain CNS tumours of all behaviours, while others only cover malignant neoplasms. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Feb 8:1-5. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

5Radiology, Oslo University Hospital; and.

OBJECTIVEThe authors conducted a study to delineate the long-term results of the surgical treatment of pediatric pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXAs).METHODSAll consecutive children and adolescents (0-20 years) who underwent primary tumor resection for a PXA during the years 1972-2015 were included in this retrospective study on surgical morbidity, mortality rate, academic achievement, and/or work participation. Gross motor function and activities of daily living were scored according to the Barthel Index. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019 Jan 28:e27625. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder commonly caused by PTPN11 germline mutations. Patients are characterized by short stature, congenital heart defects, facial dysmorphism, and increased risk of malignancies including brain tumors. Commonly associated brain tumors are dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor and low-grade glioma. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL.

Background/objectives: Dosimetric studies show that proton therapy can reduce the low/intermediate radiation dose to uninvolved tissue in children with low-grade glioma (LGG). For this reason, LGG is the 4th most common pediatric tumor treated with proton therapy, yet clinical outcome data on efficacy and toxicity are limited.

Design/methods: We reviewed the medical records of 174 children (≤21 years old) with non-metastatic LGG enrolled on a prospective protocol and treated with proton therapy between 2007 and 2017 to assess clinical outcomes and toxicity, and analyze patient, tumor, and treatment-related variables. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address:

Objective: We studied the accuracy of the radiologic diagnosis of lateral ventricular masses in children (<20 years of age).

Methods: In this retrospective study, data were collected from children with lateral ventricular masses managed in our unit between 2001 and 2016. There were 43 patients (26 boys and 17 girls; mean age, 12. Read More

Turk Neurosurg 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Heinrich-Braun-Clinic.

Aim: In glioblastoma multiforme, the balance between the procoagulant system, anticoagulant system and fibrinolytic system is impaired in favour of hypercoagulability. The aim of this study was to compare glioblastoma multiforme with astrocytoma grade II by subjectively evaluating the levels of prothrombin and biotinylation thrombin, and G protein serum protease activatin receptors, as tissue factors causing hypercoagulation and affecting coagulation.

Material And Methods: Specimens from 35 cases with glioblastoma multiforme and 23 cases with astrocytoma grade II were evaluated immunohistochemically. Read More

Cureus 2018 Oct 27;10(10):e3505. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, USA.

Hyponatremia post-neurosurgical intervention can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Two of its most common causes are cerebral salt wasting (CSW) and syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone release (SIADH). CSW is proposed to be secondary not only to the elevated levels of circulating atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) but inhibition of steroidogenesis in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex, thus resulting in mineralocorticoid deficiency. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 10. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address:

Background: The revised WHO classification of central nervous system tumors, published in 2016, has recognized the H3 K27M mutation as a critical genetic signature defining a new group of infiltrative astrocytomas designated "diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M mutant". Although the majority of H3 K27M mutations arise in the setting of diffusely infiltrative tumors, there are rare reports of compact tumors with low-grade histologic features harboring this mutation. The prevalence and clinical significance of this mutation in pilocytic astrocytomas remain unclear. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Background: Pediatric patients with brain tumors who are treated with radiation therapy (RT) are at risk for neurocognitive and psychosocial late effects. Research to date has primarily examined these outcomes at a group level and in isolation. Advanced statistical techniques allow for person-centered analyses, as well as examination of relationships between domain-specific trajectories. Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University and Uppsala University Childrens' Hospital, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.

Introduction: Pilocytic astrocytoma is the most common brain tumour in childhood but knowledge concerning its long-term outcome is sparse. The aim of the study was to investigate if children treated for low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma in the posterior fossa had complications affecting physical and psychological health, cognitive functions, learning difficulties and HRQoL.

Methods: A descriptive single-centre study, where 22 children and young adults out of 27 eligible patients (81%) treated for pilocytic astrocytoma, with a mean follow-up time of 12. Read More

Pediatr Neurosurg 2019 Jan 8:1-10. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health Science Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia,

Background: Gangliogliomas are low-grade neoplasms that typically affect patients under the age of 30 and present with epilepsy and symptoms of mass effect. Here, we report a case of an intraventricular ganglioglioma involving the septum pellucidum in a pediatric patient with history of optic glioma. Only one other pediatric intraventricular ganglioglioma arising from the septum pellucidum has been reported previously. Read More

Eur Radiol 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 407 E 61st Street Suite 107, New York, NY, 10065, USA.

Objectives: Texture analysis performed on MRI images can provide additional quantitative information that is invisible to human assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of texture analysis on preoperative conventional MRI images in predicting early malignant transformation from low- to high-grade glioma and compare its utility to histogram analysis alone.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with low-grade glioma (LGG) were included in this study, 15 of which showed malignant transformation. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Jan;130(1):9-16

OBJECTIVEThe goal of this article is to review the history of surgery for low- and high-grade gliomas located within the insula with particular focus on microsurgical technique, anatomical considerations, survival, and postoperative morbidity.METHODSThe authors reviewed the literature for published reports focused on insular region anatomy, neurophysiology, surgical approaches, and outcomes for adults with World Health Organization grade II-IV gliomas.RESULTSWhile originally considered to pose too great a risk, insular glioma surgery can be performed safely due to the collective efforts of many individuals. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova Medical School, via Giustiniani 5, 35100, Padova, Italy.

Purpose: The choice between sitting and prone position to access the infratentorial space in a suboccipital craniotomy is still a matter of debate. The comparisons in terms of complications and outcome of both positions are scarce, and the pediatric population is indeed more infrequent in these in scientific reviews. In this paper, we assess intraoperative and postoperative complications and neurological outcome in pediatric patients undergoing posterior cranial fossa surgery for pilocytic astrocytoma in sitting and prone position respectively. Read More

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.

Purpose: Diffuse midline gliomas, H3 K27M-mutant were introduced as a new grade IV entity in WHO classification of tumors 2016. These tumors occur often in pediatric patients and show an adverse prognosis with a median survival less than a year. Most of the studies on these tumors, previously known as pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, are on pediatric patients and its significance in adult patients is likely underestimated. Read More

Onco Targets Ther 2018 4;11:8673-8684. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tumorbiology Laboratory, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany,

Background: ATF5 suppresses differentiation of neuroprogenitor cells and is overexpressed in glioblastoma (GBM). A reduction of its expression leads to apoptotic GBM cell death. Data on ATF5 expression in astrocytoma WHO grade II (low-grade astrocytoma [LGA]) are scarce and lacking on recurrent GBM. Read More

No Shinkei Geka 2018 Dec;46(12):1073-1079

Department of Neurosurgery(Omori), School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University.

Hemorrhagic low-grade glioma(LGG)without malignant transformation is rare, accounting for less than 1% of cases. To the best of our knowledge, hemorrhagic LGG with an arteriovenous(AV)shunt has not been reported. We report the case of 17-year-old man with LGG with an AV shunt. Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Jan 20;141(2):373-382. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo - USP, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.

Purposes: Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is a low-grade neoplasm frequently found in childhood. PA is characterized by slow growth and a relatively good prognosis. Genetic mechanisms such as activation of MAPK, BRAF gene deregulation and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndrome have been associated with PA development. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Semmes Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute, Memphis, Tennessee.

This video demonstrates microsurgical resection of low-grade (Grade I) thoracic spinal cord astrocytoma. Astrocytomas are the most common pediatric intramedullary tumors and occur secondary to ependymomas in adults.1,2 The treatment goal should be radical gross total resection while preserving neurological function with intraoperative neuromonitoring. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2019 Mar;43(3):422-431

Departments of Pathology.

Overgrowth of neuroglial tissue is rare in testicular germ cell tumors and mostly reported as isolated cases. We retrospectively reviewed 13 cases of testicular germ cell tumors from 2 institutions from 1995 to 2018. Hematoxylin and eosin slides were collected and reviewed. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, Academic Division of Child Health, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.

Purpose: This is the first UK multi-centre case-controlled study with follow-up in excess of 10 years to report the neurocognitive, academic and psychological outcomes of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumour in early childhood. Children enrolled into the UKCCSG CNS 9204 trial, diagnosed with intracranial ependymoma when aged ≤ 36 months old, who received a primary chemotherapy strategy to defer or avoid radiotherapy, were recruited.

Methods: Outcomes of those who relapsed and subsequently received radiotherapy (n = 13) were compared to those enrolled who did not relapse (n = 16), age-matched controls-diagnosed with solid non-central nervous system (SN-CNS; n = 15) tumours or low-grade posterior fossa pilocytic astrocytoma (PFPA; n = 15), and normative data. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2019 Jan 6;161(1):161-169. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

IRCCS San Camillo Hospital Foundation, Neuropsychology Unit, Lido, Venice, Italy.

Background: Pediatric patients with circumscribed cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) tumors generally perform within the normal range on neuropsychological tests after a complete tumor resection. The outcome in academically relevant abilities such as mathematics, which in adults involve some cerebellar functions, is however much less understood. The aim of this study is to retrospectively investigate the neuroplasticity of mathematical skills and associated cognitive functions following cerebellar resection of PA in pediatric patients. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: Primary spinal cord tumors are rare, and evidence-based management of these patients remains a source of controversy. This study used a large cohort of low-grade spinal cord astrocytomas to determine the effectiveness of prognostic factors and survival.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry was used to identify patients with WHO grade I-II primary spinal cord astrocytomas from 1973 to 2012; however, patients before 2006 were excluded due to ambiguity diagnosis. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Feb 24;60:153-155. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem, autosomal dominant disorder with a wide clinical spectrum. The most common brain tumor associated with TSC is the low grade subependymal giant cell astrocytoma. Reports of high grade primary brain tumors in patients with TSC are rare. Read More

Cancer Invest 2018 Dec 3:1-12. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

a Department of Neurosurgery , University of Debrecen , Debrecen , Hungary.

Aim Of The Study: Astrocytomas are primary CNS malignancies which infiltrate the peritumoral tissue, even when they are low-grade. Schwannomas are also primary CNS tumors, however, they do not show peritumoral infiltration similarly to brain metastases which almost never invade the neighboring parts of brain. Extracellular matrix is altered in composition in various cancer types and is proposed to play an important role in the development of invasiveness of astrocytic tumors. Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Jan 29;141(2):383-391. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Purpose: WHO grade II gliomas are uncommon in patients over the age of 60, and there is a lack in consensus regarding their management. We present molecular tumor characteristics as well as clinical outcomes in patients over the age of 60 undergoing surgical resection of a WHO grade II glioma.

Methods: After receiving IRB approval, patients were identified through the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Two techniques, the translongitudinal cerebral fissure and transfrontal cortical approach, can be employed to resect posterior cingulate gyrus tumors. We demonstrate the transcortical technique comprising of multimodal imaging guidance and awake brain mapping which enabled maximum safe resection of dominant cingulate gyrus glioma. The patient, a 49-yr-old female, came to clinic after experiencing headache for a month. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2018 Nov 10. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, USA.

Background: Although considerable progress has been made in understanding molecular alterations driving gliomagenesis, the diverse metabolic programs contributing towards the aggressive phenotype of glioblastoma remain unclear. The aim of this study was to define and provide molecular context to metabolic reprogramming driving gliomagenesis.

Methods: Integrative cross-platform analyses coupling global metabolomic profiling with genomics in patient-derived glioma (low-grade astrocytoma [LGA; n=28] and glioblastoma [n=80]) was performed. Read More

Neurosurg Clin N Am 2019 Jan 1;30(1):85-93. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, M779, San Francisco, CA 94143-0112, USA.

Surgical resection plays a central role in the management of gliomas however many tumors are within areas resulting in sensorimotor and cognitive consequences. This article reviews the evidence in support of extent of resection to improve survival, symptom management, and time to malignant transformation in low-grade gliomas. The authors summarize the evolving literature regarding the role of maximal safe resection in light of WHO subclassification of low-grade gliomas. Read More

Neurosurg Clin N Am 2019 Jan;30(1):17-25

Department of Neurosurgery, Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, Neuroscience Institute, Brain Tumor Center, NYU School of Medicine, 530 First Avenue, Skirball 8R, New York, NY 10016, USA. Electronic address:

Advances in genome sequencing have elucidated the genetics of low-grade glioma. Available evidence indicates a neomorphic mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) initiates gliomagenesis. Mutant IDH produces the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate, which inhibits enzymes that demethylate genomic DNA and histones. Read More

Neurosurg Clin N Am 2019 Jan;30(1):1-16

Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Dan Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030-3498, USA. Electronic address:

Incidence, prevalence, and survival for diffuse low-grade gliomas and diffuse anaplastic gliomas (including grade II and grade III astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas) varies by histologic type, age at diagnosis, sex, and race/ethnicity. Significant progress has been made in identifying potential risk factors for glioma, although more research is warranted. The strongest risk factors that have been identified thus far include allergies/atopic disease, ionizing radiation, and heritable genetic factors. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2019 Jan 23;23(1):641-655. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Laboratory of Neuro-oncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

Key regulators of the Wnt signalling, DVL1, DVL2 and DVL3, in astrocytomas of different malignancy grades were investigated. Markers for DVL1, DVL2 and DVL3 were used to detect microsatellite instability (MSI) and gross deletions (LOH), while immunohistochemistry and immunoreactivity score were used to determine the signal strengths of the three DVL proteins and transcription factors of the pathway, TCF1 and LEF1. Our findings demonstrated that MSI at all three DVL loci was constantly found across tumour grades with the highest number in grade II (P = 0. Read More

Magn Reson Imaging 2019 Apr 19;57:254-258. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: Texture analysis performed on MR images can detect quantitative features that are imperceptible to human visual assessment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of texture analysis on preoperative conventional MRI to discriminate between histological subtypes in low-grade gliomas (LGGs), and to determine the utility of texture analysis compared to histogram analysis alone.

Methods: A total of 41 patients with LGG, 21 astrocytoma and 20 1p/19q codeleted oligodendroglioma were included in this study. Read More

Contemp Oncol (Pozn) 2018 30;22(3):205-208. Epub 2018 Sep 30.

Department of Pathology, Chair of Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.

Angiocentric features are uncommon in high-grade World Health Organisation (WHO) brain tumours, whilst they are typical for WHO grade I tumours, e.g. angiocentric gliomas. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018 Nov 10. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Electronic address:

Purpose: To determine the rate of marginal relapse, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with pediatric low-grade glioma (PLGG) treated with conformal radiation therapy (CRT) with a clinical target volume (CTV) margin of 5 mm in the Children's Oncology Group trial ACNS0221.

Methods And Materials: Patients aged 3 to 21 years with unresectable progressive, recurrent, or residual PLGG were eligible for this study. Patients younger than 10 years were required to have received at least 1 chemotherapy course. Read More

Cancer Med 2018 Dec 30;7(12):5973-5987. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Background: The update of 2018 NCCN guidelines (central nervous system cancers) recommended the risk classification of postoperative patients diagnosed as adult low-grade (WHO grade II) infiltrative supratentorial astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma (ALISA/O) should take tumor size into consideration. Moreover, the guidelines removed postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for low risk patients. Our study aimed to explore the specific tumor size to divide postoperative patients into relatively low- or high risk subgroups and the effect of PORT for ALISA/O patients. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Feb 23;60:155-157. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) are slow-growing low-grade gliomas, commonly diagnosed as cerebellar tumors among the pediatric and adolescent population. Characteristic neuroradiologic findings in PA include a cystic mass with enhancing solid nodule. While uncommon radiologic features of PA, including non-enhancing cystic tumors, have been previously described, we present a unique case of a patient with a non-enhancing solid cerebellar PA. Read More

Br J Radiol 2019 Feb 3;92(1094):20170872. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

1 Birmingham Children's Hospital , Birmingham , UK.

Objective:: To investigate correlations between MRI perfusion metrics measured by dynamic susceptibility contrast and arterial spin labelling in paediatric brain tumours.

Methods:: 15 paediatric patients with brain tumours were scanned prospectively using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (ASL) and dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC-) MRI with a pre-bolus to minimise contrast agent leakage. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps were produced using ASL. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2019 Jan 18;35(1):73-81. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Department of Neurosurgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) are low-grade neoplasms that primarily affect children. The management of OPGs remains controversial. Reports on the use of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) in OPGs are extremely limited, and no such reports exist on its utility for pediatric OPGs. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 13;121:205-210. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.

Background: To avoid permanent neurologic deficits and preserve brain function in and near the eloquent area, intraoperative electrical stimulation mapping (IESM) is necessary. However, little is known about how these subcortical regions are involved in calculation processing function in patients with glioma.

Case Description: We report the case of a 56-year-old, right-handed woman working at a primary school as a teacher who had recurrent left parietal glioma. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 Dec 2;175:9-15. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK.

Objectives: The majority of patients with supratentorial diffuse grade II glioma present with seizures, which adversely affect quality of life. The exact mechanism of epileptogenesis is unknown and the influence of tumour characteristics, radiological and histological, are not well studied, particularly following the introduction of molecular genetics in the 2016 WHO reclassification of gliomas. We sought to define predictors of seizure development and outcome in low grade glioma. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 2;58:124-129. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Department of Radiation Oncology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Summit Medical Group at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Berkeley Heights, NJ, USA.

It is unclear whether there is a survival benefit with postoperative radiation for low-grade gliomas deemed to be high-risk. We sought to analyze patterns of care and outcomes of radiation use. We accessed the National Cancer Database to identify patients with WHO grade II oligodendroglioma or astrocytoma between 2010 and 2012. Read More

Medicina (B Aires) 2018 ;78(5):305-310

División Neurocirugía, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Brainstem tumors are uncommon beyond childhood. Controversies arise regarding the need of histological diagnosis in this eloquent area of the brain, weighting the benefits of a reliable diagnosis against the disadvantages of invasive procedures. There are scant publications about the surgical management of brainstem tumors in adults, all of them involving small retrospective cohorts. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 24;122:e108-e120. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Department of Neurology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address:

Background: The combined use of chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) is becoming increasingly common in the treatment of surgically resected low-grade gliomas. However, whether RT or CT is associated with improved overall survival (OS) for low-grade gliomas without surgical resection is less clear.

Methods: The U. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018 Sep 25;6(1):101. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, MS 260, Memphis, 38105-3678, TN, USA.

Tectal glioma (TG) is a rare low-grade tumor occurring predominantly in the pediatric population. There has been no detailed analysis of molecular alterations in TG. Risk factors associated with inferior outcome and long-term sequelae of TG have not been well-documented. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019 Jan 24;66(1):e27474. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan.

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2018 Nov;77(11):1039-1054

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Comparative Oncology Program, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, Maryland.

The National Cancer Institute-led multidisciplinary Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium (CBTC) convened a glioma pathology board, comprising both veterinarian and physician neuropathologists, and conducted a comprehensive review of 193 cases of canine glioma. The immediate goal was to improve existing glioma classification methods through creation of a histologic atlas of features, thus yielding greater harmonization of phenotypic characterization. The long-term goal was to support future incorporation of clinical outcomes and genomic data into proposed simplified diagnostic schema, so as to further bridge the worlds of veterinary and physician neuropathology and strengthen validity of the dog as a naturally occurring, translationally relevant animal model of human glioma. Read More

Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi 2018 Sep;47(9):664-670

Department of Pathology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China.

To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and BRAF V600E mutation of brain tumors associated with epilepsy. Totally 250 patients with brain tumors associated with epilepsy were included from March 2008 to August 2017 retrospectively at Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University.The clinical manifestations, histological features and BRAF V600E mutation results were collected and analyzed. Read More

Nagoya J Med Sci 2018 Aug;80(3):431-434

Department of Neurosurgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Meningiomas rarely exhibit cystic lesions with mural nodules, and may be misdiagnosed as intraparenchymal cystic tumors. We herein present a 64-year-old woman with a cystic lesion and enhancing mural nodule in the left temporal lobe accompanied by peritumoral brain edema. Differential diagnoses included low-grade gliomas, hemangioblastoma, and cystic meningioma. Read More