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Eur Radiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Radiology, Institut Bergonié, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 229, cours de l'Argonne, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.

Objectives: SMARCA4-deficient thoracic sarcoma (SMARCA4-DTS) is a recently identified aggressive subtype of sarcoma. The aim of this study was to characterize the CT imaging features of SMARCA4-DTS.

Methods: From June 2011 to May 2017, 21 adult patients with histologically proven SMARCA4-DTS were identified in the radiological database of 2 French sarcoma reference centers with at least one chest CT scan available. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2019 Mar 10;57(2):377-395. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

RadNet, 5 Columbus Circle 9th Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA.

Osseous metastases are the most common spine tumor and increasingly prevalent as advances in cancer treatments allow patients to live longer with their disease. Evidence-based algorithms derive the majority of their data from imaging studies and reports; the radiologist should understand the most current treatments and report in the language of the treatment team for efficient and effective communication and patient care. Advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI are increasingly used for diagnosis and problem solving. Read More

Pol J Radiol 2018 12;83:e426-e436. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Department of Radiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of combining non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and non-enhanced endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for assessing the malignant potential of lesions in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas (IPMNs).

Material And Methods: Data from 38 patients histopathologically diagnosed with IPMN adenomas or IPMN adenocarcinomas were retrospectively analysed. Preliminary univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify statistically significant associations. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) comprise the least common types of spinal neoplasms; surgery is mostly conducted with intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). However, although IONM is widely used to prevent neurological damage and many single-center studies have been published, the added value, in terms of overall sensitivity and specificity, of different monitoring techniques used in IMSCT surgery, remains to be clearly defined.

Object: Summarize and review the published evidence on the use of IONM in IMSCT surgery, including our own case series (n=75 patients). Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Mayo Clinic Neuro-Informatics Laboratory, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Introduction: Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCMs) are rare lesions affecting the spinal cord in patients with disseminated malignancy. Today, due to increased survival, these lesions are more frequently diagnosed. Literature on survival and neurologic outcomes is sparse. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14198

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Rationale: Metastatic thymic carcinoma in the spine is a rare disease with no standard curative managements yet. The objective of this study is to report a very rare case of spinal metastases of thymic carcinoma successfully operated by combination of instrumentation and cement augmentation together with adjuvant treatment. The management of these unique cases has yet to be well-documented. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2019 02;117(1):e41-e46

Grupo de Investigación en Salud del Adulto Mayor, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Corporación Universitaria Remington, Medellín. Colombia.

Extraosseous primitive neuroectodermal tumors are very rare neoplasms. Only a few cases have been published in the literature. This report is about a 9-year-old female patient whose clinical manifestations showed spinal cord compression, so different diagnosis should be considered, including oncology disease. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Jan;33(1):61-65

Department of Spine Surgery, Luoyang Orthopedic Hospital of Henan Province (Henan Orthopedic Hospital), Henan Luoyang, 471002, P.R.China.

Objective: To explore the practicability and safety of ultrasonic bone curette in the laminoplasty of spinal canal after resection of intraspinal tumors.

Methods: The clinical data of 17 patients with thoracolumbar intraspinal tumors treated with ultrasonic bone curette after resection of intraspinal tumors between December 2015 and April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were male, aged 42-73 years with an average of 57. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2018 Nov;43(11):1182-1187

Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China.

Objective: To investigate the role of spinal interleukin-6-Janus kinase 2 (IL-6-JAK2) signaling transduction pathway in regulating astrocytes activation during the maintenance of bone cancer pain (BCP).
 Methods: NCTC 2472 fibrosarcoma cells were injected into the femur marrow cavity in C3H/HeNCrlVr male mice to establish BCP model and they were replaced by the equal volume of α-MEM in the sham model. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) was measured after inoculation of tumor cells. Read More

Pract Radiat Oncol 2019 Jan 15;9(1):9-15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of multiple dose-volume specifications in minimizing interinstitutional, target-prescribed, dose variations for spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Methods And Materials: Seven institutions with a total of 10 treatment apparatuses participated in this study. SBRT plans for 3 representative spinal metastases were generated using 2 different protocols (Protocols 1 and 2) for target dose. Read More

Bull Cancer 2018 Dec;105 Suppl 3:S268-S279

Département d'oncologie médicale, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.. Electronic address:

Treating Patients With Bone Metastases From Renal Cell Carcinoma: Bone metastases (BMs) are common and cause morbidity in cancer patients. One third of metastatic renal cancer (mRCC) patients present metastatic disease to the bone. BMs cause severe complications such as fracture, spinal cord compression and pain requiring surgery or radiotherapy. Read More

Radiat Oncol 2018 Dec 29;13(1):257. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.

Background: Local progression-free survival (LPFS = stable or improved motor function/resolution of paraplegia during RT without in-field recurrence following RT) is important when treating metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). An instrument to estimate LPFS was created to identify patients appropriately treated with short-course RT instead of longer-course RT plus/minus decompressive surgery.

Methods: In 686 patients treated with 20 Gy in 5 fractions alone, ten characteristics were retrospectively analyzed for LPFS including age, interval between tumor diagnosis and RT of MSCC, visceral metastases, other bone metastases, primary tumor type, gender, time developing motor deficits, pre-RT gait function, number of vertebrae affected by MSCC, and performance score. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 ;14(7):1549-1555

Department of Interventional Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Shihezi University, Xinjiang, 832008, China.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of I seed interstitial implantation brachytherapy for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) as well as the life quality of patients.

Materials And Methods: From April 2009 to May 2015, 28 patients who met the eligibility criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The number of implanted I seeds ranged from 7 to 62, with appropriate activity of 0. Read More

Nagoya J Med Sci 2018 Nov;80(4):605-609

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.

A 39-year old man underwent surgery for recurrence of a cervical schwannoma. At 6 months postoperatively, severe headache appeared and head CT showed marked ventricular dilation that was diagnosed as delayed hydrocephalus. Dural repair surgery using a fascia patch of the tensor fasciae latae muscle was performed after VP shunt. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(51):e13796

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Rationale: Malignant thymoma in the spine is a rare disease without standard curative managements so far. The objective of this article is to report a very rare case of recurrent malignant thymoma with sacrum metastases causing severe lumbosacral pain, which was presented with acute radiculopathy and treated with 2 operations combined with stabilization and cement augmentation. The management of these unique cases is not well-documented. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 5;9:2802. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system first defined in 2016. GFAP autoantibody, especially IgG that binds to GFAPα, has been reported in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of patients with GFAP astrocytopathy. The positive predictive value of GFAP antibody in the CSF is higher than in the serum. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13374

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Center, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Rationale: We report on a patient with a positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans (PET/CT)-negative malignant spine tumor, which had even caused a pathologic fracture, and was eventually confirmed on surgical biopsy.

Patient Concerns: A 67-year-old man visited our emergency department with sudden onset of lower extremities paraplegia after slip down. On examination, gradually increasing paralysis was observed in both lower limbs. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Objective: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed our experience in the surgical management of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT)/hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) of the spinal cord.

Methods: Sixteen patients with SFT/HPCs of the spinal cord were enrolled in this study. Data on clinical presentation, radiologic findings, histopathologic features, surgical treatment, adjuvant therapy, and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2018 Dec;180(50)

Intramedullary spinal cord tumours (IMSCT) are rare neoplasms, which can potentially lead to severe neurologic deficits. In this case report, an 83-year-old man presented with rapidly progressive bilateral muscle weakness developed within few weeks. MRI revealed a spinal cord tumour at the C7/Th1 vertebral level. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

Of Background Data: Primary osseous spinal neoplasms (POSNs) include locally aggressive tumors such as osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chordoma. For such tumors, surgical resection is associated with improved survival for patients. Socioeconomic predictors of receiving surgery, however, have not been studied. Read More

Anticancer Res 2018 Dec;38(12):6897-6903

Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.

Background/aim: Patients with oligo-metastatic breast cancer are a unique patient subgroup with more favourable outlook than most patients with metastatic disease. Prognostic factors in these patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) were evaluated.

Patients And Methods: In 159 patients irradiated for MSCC from oligo-metastatic breast cancer, seven characteristics were retrospectively analyzed including age, interval between breast cancer diagnosis and irradiation of MSCC, time developing motor deficits, ambulatory status, involved vertebrae, performance score (ECOG-PS) and radiotherapy regimen. Read More

Anticancer Res 2018 Dec;38(12):6841-6846

Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.

Background/aim: Prognoses of patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) from urothelial carcinoma of the bladder are generally poor. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors that can facilitate personalized care of these patients.

Patients And Methods: In 46 patients, 10 factors were evaluated for overall response (OR), post-radiotherapy (RT) ambulatory status, local control of MESCC and overall survival (OS). Read More

Toxicol Lett 2019 Feb 28;301:146-156. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address:

Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid antagonist and widely used for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. MTX is associated with acute and chronic neurotoxicity during treatment, however the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. In this study we investigate whether MTX is neurovirulent to astrocytes in the Central Nervous System (CNS) of adolescent mice. Read More

J Cancer Res Ther 2018 Oct-Dec;14(6):1389-1396

Department of Radiation Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey.

Aim: Dosimetric comparison of three different techniques in female lymphoma patients who had radiotherapy (RT) to the neck and mediastinum.

Setting And Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Materials And Methods: Computerized tomography-simulator images of eight patients were obtained retrospectively. Read More

Phys Med 2018 Nov 15;55:107-115. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, C/Emili Grahit 77, 17003 Girona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Clínica Girona, Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge, C/Lorenzana 36, 17002 Girona, Spain. Electronic address:

Purpose: To assess the dosimetric impact of switching from the Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm (AAA) to Acuros XB (AXB) for both dose-to-medium (Dm) and dose-to-water (Dw) in VMAT for H&N patients. To study whether it should be linked to a change in the dose prescriptions to the PTVs and in the constraints to the OARs.

Methods: 110H&N patients treated with VMAT were included. Read More

Radiat Oncol 2018 Nov 22;13(1):228. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany.

Background: Neoadjuvant radio(chemo)therapy of non-metastasized, borderline resectable or unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer is complex and prone to cause side-effects, e.g., in gastrointestinal organs. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2018 Nov 17;12(1):341. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Section of Hospital Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare, malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can arise in the brain, spinal cord, eye, leptomeninges, or cranial nerves. Primary central nervous system lymphoma is rare, accounting for 2-6% of all primary brain neoplasms and 1-2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and it usually presents as a solitary lesion. Cerebellar involvement is present in only 9% of cases. Read More

Spinal Cord 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.

Study Design: Observational cohort study.

Objective: To investigate survival and life expectancy after NTSCI in Switzerland according to etiology.

Setting: Specialized rehabilitation centers in Switzerland. Read More

Pediatr Neurosurg 2018 8;53(6):427-431. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Bahcesehir University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Gaziantep Medical Park Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.

Tethered cord syndrome (TCS), a neurological disorder characterized by the lower settlement of the conus medullaris, is a congenital spinal disease which is caused by split cord syndrome, meningomyelocele, and spinal tumors. Cranial dermoid tumor (CDT) is a congenital benign tumor which is generally located on the midline of the cranium. Even though TCS is highly associated with spinal dermoid tumor, the relationship of CDT and TCS is unusual. Read More

Orthop Surg 2018 Nov 8;10(4):343-349. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.

This study investigated the surgical results of a single-stage posterolateral approach with arc incision, unilateral laminectomy, and costotransversectomy for the management of dumbbell tumors and paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine. From January 2010 to March 2017, 14 patients with dumbbell tumors or paraspinal tumors of the thoracic spine who underwent resection with single-stage posterolateral approach were followed up and analyzed retrospectively. The operations were performed using a single-stage posterolateral approach with arc incision, unilateral laminectomy, and costotransversectomy without any instrumentation. Read More

J Vet Med Sci 2018 Dec 8;80(12):1901-1904. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.

A 4-year-old, male Bernese mountain dog was evaluated for a 1-year history of right hemiparesis. Computed tomography revealed a large hypoattenuating mass severely deforming the C5 vertebral arch, invading the C6 spinal canal, and causing spinal cord compression. The signal characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging indicated a lesion composed of adipose tissue. Read More

Neurochirurgie 2018 Dec 2;64(6):442-444. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of neurosurgery and radiology, faculty of Medicine, UDL Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria.

Introduction: Intramedullary spinal cord lipomas (IMSCL) are a rare entity, accounting for less than 1% of spinal tumors. Most cases are associated with lumbosacral dysraphism and occur predominantly in the pediatric population.

Material And Method: We report the case of an isolated bipolar lipoma, which was very large in the cervicodorsal region and small in the conus medularis. Read More

Lupus 2018 Dec 4;27(14):2292-2295. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

1 Department of Neurology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Nontraumatic acute transverse myelitis (ATM) can occur in response to infectious, inflammatory and vascular triggers; 1% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop ATM, but the mechanism remains unknown.

Objective: The objective of this case report is to describe a case of intrathecal formation of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) during SLE-related ATM.

Methods: A single patient analysis was conducted. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Oct;98(37):3009-3013

Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.

To evaluate the value of minimum ADC(ADC(min))and mean ADC(ADC(mean)), lesion to spinal cord signal intensity ratio (LSR) in diagnosis of metastatic hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with lung cancer. A total of 34 patients (89 lymph nodes) pathologically diagnosed as lung cancer were enrolled into this study who were examined in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2016 to June 2017. All patients underwent MRI scan 1 week before surgery or endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Read More

Pediatr Neurosurg 2018 2;53(6):387-394. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Background: An ependyma-lined canal with surrounding neuroglial tissues can be present in lumbosacral lipomatous malformations; however, the precise embryological significance is still unclear.

Method: Six out of 50 patients with lipomatous malformations had ependymal structures. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, neuroradiological, and histological findings of these patients to demonstrate the relationship with the embryological background of the retained medullary cord (RMC), which normally regresses, but was retained here because of late arrest of secondary neurulation. Read More

Brain Tumor Res Treat 2018 Oct;6(2):97-100

Department of Pathology, Ilsan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Goyang, Korea.

Meningioma is relatively common, benign, and extra-axial tumor accounting for about 20% of primary brain and spinal cord tumors. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified these tumors into Grade I (benign), Grade II (atypical), and Grade III (anaplastic) meningioma. Grade I meningioma which is slowly growing tumor and have some rare subtypes. Read More

Oncol Rep 2019 Jan 25;41(1):361-368. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.

Gliomas, the most highly malignant central nervous system tumors, are associated with an extremely poor patient survival rate. Given that gliomas are derived from mutations in glial precursor cells, a considerable number of them strongly react with glial precursor cell‑specific markers. Thus, we investigated whether malignant gliomas can be converted to glial cells through the regulation of endogenous gene expression implicated in glial precursor cells. Read More

Tumour Biol 2018 Oct;40(10):1010428318808670

1 Division of Pharmacotherapy, Kindai University School of Pharmacy, Higashi-Osaka, Japan.

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a highly problematic, dose-limiting effect of potentially curative regimens of cancer chemotherapy. When neuropathic pain is severe, patients often either switch to less-effective chemotherapy agents or choose to discontinue chemotherapy entirely. Conventional chemotherapy drugs used to treat lung and breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma include paclitaxel, vincristine, and bortezomib. Read More

Technol Cancer Res Treat 2018 01;17:1533033818806472

1 Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Object: This study aimed to clarify the outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy for spinal metastases with a uniform dose fractionation schedule in our institution.

Materials And Methods: Patients treated with spine stereotactic body radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. The prescribed dose was 24 Gy in 2 fractions. Read More

Radiat Oncol 2018 Oct 22;13(1):206. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Radiotherapy of liver metastases is commonly being performed with photon-beam based stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The high risk for radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) is a limiting factor in these treatments. The use of proton-beam based SBRT could potentially improve the sparing of the healthy part of the liver. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 24;2018:8927290. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.

Purpose: To investigate the dose depositions to organs at risk (OARs) and associated cancer risk in cancer patients scanned with 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) as compared with conventional 3DCT.

Methods And Materials: The radiotherapy treatment planning CT image and structure sets of 102 patients were converted to CT phantoms. The effective diameters of those patients were computed. Read More

Curr Med Sci 2018 Oct 20;38(5):888-893. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.

This study is aimed to classify degrees of diaphragma sellae (DS) descent into sella turcica according to the surgical field block caused by the descent and to construct predictive imaging criteria for the degree of descent, and in addition, to determine whether there is any correlation between the degree of DS descent and the operative outcome (in the form of cerebrospinal fluid leak and/or presence of residual tumor). Totally, 72 patients were enrolled in our study. Their clinical and radiological data as well as the high definition videos of operations were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Vet J 2018 Nov 13;241:20-23. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Fundació Hospital Clínic, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in cats and occurs less frequently in the spinal cord. This study aimed to investigate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in feline meningiomas, and the possible association between COX-2 immunoreactivity and tumor grade using eight low-grade and seven high-grade meningiomas. All tumors (n=15/15) were immunoreactive to COX-2. Read More

Oncol Lett 2018 Nov 4;16(5):5939-5945. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Radiation Oncology Center, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

The purpose of the present study was to propose an optimized 2D technique (2D-conformal) for radiotherapy (RT) of pancreatic cancer (CaP). This technique is based on double simulation which resolves the problems of radiographic image distortion. Five patients with locally advanced CaP were identified and enrolled. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 13;58:210-212. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

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

Background And Importance: Advances in minimally invasive (MIS) and mini-open surgical approaches have led to reductions in perioperative morbidity without compromising rates of resection of non-degenerative intradural spinal pathologies. Whether these approaches may be adapted for the surgical resection for intramedullary vascular malformations - such as cavernous malformations (CMs) - has yet to be reported. The authors describe a mini-open transspinous approach to resect a ruptured intramedullary CM of the conus medullaris. Read More

Cancer Radiother 2018 Dec 12;22(8):754-762. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, 05505 Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a promising treatment modality for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. To determine the optimal radiation treatment, we compared the plan characteristics of volumetric-modulated arc therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy when administered with stereotactic body radiation therapy to treat pancreatic cancer.

Patients And Methods: Fifteen patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer were treated by stereotactic body radiation therapy at a dose of 24-32Gy in four fractions with marker-guided gated volumetric-modulated arc therapy. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 12;121:239-242. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Craniospinal Surgery Center, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Spinal cord ependymomas are the most frequent primary intramedullary tumors of the cord in middle age (40-60 years of age). Myxopapillary ependymomas are low-incidence tumors and occur in the cauda equina and conus medullaris. They are typically described as fleshy, sausage-shaped, vascular lesions. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 11;121:156-159. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

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

Background: Intradural intramedullary lipomas without dysraphism are rare tumors. Although they appear extramedullary on imaging, they invade into the intramedullary substance of the spinal cord. We present 2 cases and discuss their clinical presentation, radiologic findings, and surgical management. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(41):e12775

Department of Spine Surgery, Tianjin Union Medical Center.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness in the treatment of thoracic aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) with neurologic deficit by multiple surgical treatments.The clinical and radiographic data of 5 patients suffering from thoracic AVHs with neurologic deficit and treated by multiple surgical treatments, including percutaneous curved vertebroplasty (PCVP) combined with pedicle screw fixation and decompressive laminectomy, were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.Five patients (3 women and 2 man, with a mean age of 57. Read More