Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Ochsner J 2019 ;19(1):43-48

Department of Neurological Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA.

Intradural spinal tumors are surgically challenging lesions, and intraoperative spinal navigation offers clear potential assistance. While intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) of bony anatomy is routinely performed, coregistration with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to facilitate intradural spinal tumor resection is not widely described. We present 2 cases in which iCT was coregistered with MRI and DTI for navigational guidance in the resection of intradural spinal tumors to assess technical feasibility and surgical efficacy. Read More

Eur J Endocrinol 2019 May;180(5):311-320

Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Introduction Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer that commonly spreads to the liver, lungs and lymph nodes. Bone metastases are infrequent. Objective The aim of this report was to describe the clinical characteristics, survival perspective, prognostic factors and frequency of adverse skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with ACC who developed bone metastasis. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S San Vicente Blvd, AHSP A6600, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Subependymomas are rare in the spinal cord. They are typically expansile, intramedullary spinal cord masses, eccentrically located with minimal gadolinium enhancement.

Case Description: We present a case of subependymoma originating from the cervical cord with an unusual exophytic appearance. Read More

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2018 Oct 24;31(4):534-536. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical CenterDallasTexas.

Longstanding severe hyperparathyroidism can lead to the formation of "brown tumors," benign but locally aggressive neoplasms. We present the case of a young woman with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis with uncontrolled secondary hyperparathyroidism. The patient presented with progressive lower extremity weakness and back pain. Read More

Indian J Surg Oncol 2019 Mar 5;10(1):115-124. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.

Oncological interventions in thoracic cavity have some important problems such as choice of correct operative approaches depending on the tumor, size, extension, and location. In sarcoma surgery, wide resection should be aimed for the curative surgery. Purpose of this study was to evaluate pre-operative planning of patient-specific thoracic cavity model made by multidisciplinary surgeon team for complex tumor mass for oncological procedures. Read More

J Orthop Case Rep 2018 Nov-Dec;8(6):92-95

Department of Orthopedics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Introduction: Paragangliomas are relatively rare tumors, accounting for only about 0.3% of all neoplasms. Most paragangliomas are defined as benign in nature, but 10-% possess metastatic potential. Read More

Cancer Imaging 2019 Mar 25;19(1):19. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Medical Imaging Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510405, People's Republic of China.

Background: The purpose/aim of this study was to 1) use magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), fibre bundle/tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and machine learning methods to study changes in the white matter (WM) structure and whole brain WM network in different periods of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after radiotherapy (RT), 2) identify the most discriminating WM regions and WM connections as biomarkers of radiation brain injury (RBI), and 3) supplement the understanding of the pathogenesis of RBI, which is useful for early diagnosis in the clinic.

Methods: A DTI scan was performed in 77 patients and 67 normal controls. A fractional anisotropy map was generated by DTIFit. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Memorial Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Intramedullary glial neoplasms affecting the entire spinal cord from the cervicomedullary junction to conus medullaris are termed 'holocord tumors'. Pilocytic astrocytomas are relatively uncommon tumors forming holocord involvement. Hitherto 24 holocord astrocytoma cases were reported in the literature. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.

Background: Intramedullary spinal cord neoplasms (ISCN) pose significant management challenges. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (such as diffusion tensor imaging, DTI) have been utilized to determine the infiltrative nature and resectability of ISCN. However, this has not been applied to intraoperative decision making. Read More

Radiographics 2019 Mar-Apr;39(2):468-490

From the Department of Neuroradiology, American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, 1011 Wayne Ave, Suite 320, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (K.K.K., R.Y.S.); Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (K.K.K.); Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md (R.Y.S.); and Department of Radiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md (R.Y.S.).

While intradural extramedullary spinal disease varies widely, identification of tumors in this location and their radiologic manifestations greatly facilitates narrowing of the diagnostic considerations. Meningioma and schwannoma are the two most common intradural extramedullary tumors, and both are associated with neurofibromatosis. Meningiomas are most common in the thoracic spine and show a strong female predilection and a clinical manifestation related to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Read More

Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi 2019 Mar;48(3):192-198

Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, China.

To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) with H3K27M mutation. Thirty cases of DMG were collected in Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital from October 2016 to May 2018. The patients' clinicopathological data including age, tumor site and histological grade, treatment and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Radiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital. Electronic address:

Background: Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are rare malignant neoplasms in the spinal cord that comprise undifferentiated or poorly differentiated neural crest cells. PNETs imaging findings lack specificity, making diagnosis difficult.

Case Description: A 16-year-old man presented with progressive weakness and numbness of the lower extremities for 1 month, which occurred after a cold. Read More

Phys Med 2019 Feb 25;58:54-58. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Hiroshima High-Precision Radiotherapy Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan; Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to perform a comparison between robust optimization and planning target volume (PTV)-based optimization plans using volumetric modulated arc-therapy (VMAT) by evaluating perturbed doses induced by localization offsets for setup uncertainties in larynx cancer radiation therapy.

Methods: Ten patients with early-stage (T1-2N0) glottis carcinoma were selected. The clinical target volume (CTV), carotid arteries, and spinal cord were contoured by a radiation oncologist. Read More

J Vet Diagn Invest 2019 Jan;31(1):94-97

Antech Diagnostics, College Station, TX (Zoll).

A 15-y-old neutered male domestic shorthaired cat was presented with a 16-d history of hindlimb paralysis in conjunction with 1-wk duration of inappetence and lethargy. Given intractable clinical signs, development of seizures, and poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected. Gross examination revealed mild, chronic, multifocal intervertebral disk disease; however, no gross abnormalities were noted in the spinal cord. Read More

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

Br J Radiol 2019 Mar 12;92(1095):20180744. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

1 Department of Radiation Oncology, (MAASTRO), GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center , Maastricht , The Netherlands.

Objective:: Using synchronized three-dimensional stage translation and multiangle radiation delivery to improve conformality and homogeneity of radiation delivery to complexly shaped target volumes for precision preclinical radiotherapy.

Methods:: A CT image of a mouse was used to design irradiation plans to target the spinal cord and an orthotopic lung tumour. A dose painting method is proposed that combines heterogeneous two-dimensional area irradiations from multiple beam directions. Read More

BMC Surg 2019 Jan 21;19(1):11. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanhsiao Street, Changhua, 500, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Background: Spinal arachnoid cysts are rare and have varied clinical manifestations depending on the affected spinal region and nerve roots. A complete cyst excision with fistula closure is the first choice of treatment. However, it might be difficult to localize the specific position of the fistula because previous images have no enhancements or the fistula is too tiny to be detected. Read More

Neuroradiology 2019 Mar 20;61(3):313-322. Epub 2019 Jan 20.

Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.

Purpose: Diffuse midline glioma with histone H3 K27M mutation is a new entity described in the 2016 update of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics to predict the presence of H3 K27M mutation in spinal cord glioma using a machine learning-based classification model.

Methods: A total of 41 spinal cord glioma patients consisting of 24 H3 K27M mutants and 17 wild types were enrolled in this retrospective study. 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 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

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 neurologic damage and many single-center studies have been reported, the added value, in terms of overall sensitivity and specificity, of different monitoring techniques used in IMSCT surgery remains to be clearly defined.

Objective: To summarize and review the reported evidence on the use of IONM in IMSCT surgery, including our own case series (n = 75 patients). Read More

J Neurooncol 2019 Apr 17;142(2):347-354. 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

Turk Neurosurg 2019 ;29(2):237-241

Heinrich-Braun-Klinikum, Department of Neurosurgery, Zwickau, Germany.

Aim: To review our experience gained from the use of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUSG) in intradural spinal tumor surgery.

Material And Methods: IOUSG was used during surgery of 69 intradural spinal tumors, operated on between 2012 and 2016. A 5-8 MHz probe of IOUSG was used, before and after durotomy to perform the exact durotomy and myelotomy, and after tumor resection, to detect a residual tumor. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 01;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

J Neuroinflammation 2019 Jan 3;16(1). Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Research center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China.

Background: Despite accumulating evidence on the role of glial cells and their associated chemicals in mechanisms of pain, few studies have addressed the potential role of chemokines in the descending facilitation of chronic pain. We aimed to study the hypothesis that CXCL1/CXCR2 axis in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a co-restructure of the descending nociceptive system, is involved in descending pain facilitation.

Methods: Intramedullary injection of Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells of adult female Sprague Dawley rats was used to establish a bone cancer pain (BCP) model. 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

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 21;123:283-285. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutation on chromosome 17, which affects the skin, vascular system, nervous system, and skeleton system. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is one of the recognized complications of NF-1.

Case Description: We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with NF-1 with cervical spine AVF inside the cervical spinal canal who presented with progressive spinal cord compression which was abnormal. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 18;123:318-322. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China. Electronic address:

Background: Schwannomatosis is the third subtype of neurofibromatosis. Because the tumor is multiple and prone to recurrence, it often brings challenges to clinical diagnosis and treatment. In the past decade, researchers have come to realize the relationship between the SMARCB1 gene and schwannomatosis, which is expected to improve the current level of diagnosis and treatment. 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

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

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

Cancer Radiother 2019 Feb 15;23(1):28-33. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Service de carcinologie médicale, CHU Habib-Bourguiba, 3089 Sfax, Tunisie.

Purpose: We report in this study, the dosimetric and carcinologic results of intensity-modulated technique for the reirradiation of nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

Patients And Methods: Eight patients reirradiated with intensity-modulation technique between January 2015 and December 2017 were included. We noted for each patient: the minimum, maximum and average doses, the dose received by 95% (D95%), 98% (D98%) and 2% (D2%) of the volume to be irradiated, the homogeneity and conformity indices and doses to the organs at risk. 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 2019 Mar 13;123:e629-e638. 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

Pract Radiat Oncol 2019 Mar 10;9(2):89-97. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. Electronic address:

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for spinal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with other radioresistant histologies (renal cell carcinoma [RCC], melanoma, and sarcoma) in terms of local control (LC) and pain control.

Methods And Materials: We performed a retrospective review of patients treated with SRS to the spine for metastatic HCC, RCC, melanoma, and sarcoma between January 2007 and May 2014. Radiographic assessments of LC, overall survival, and patient-reported pain control were analyzed as univariable analyses and with various patient- and treatment-related parameters as multivariable analyses (MVA). Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 8;2018:1258706. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi Kami-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan.

Purpose: Minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) using percutaneous pedicle screws plays a significant role in palliative surgery for metastatic spinal tumors. However, few studies have investigated surgical outcomes based on the epidural spinal cord compression scale (ESCCS). The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of metastatic spinal tumors as evaluated by ESCCS in patients treated by MISt. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2019 Apr;32(3):125-131

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

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Mar 6;61:14-21. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

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

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 3;123:1-6. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Policlinico "G. Rodolico" University Hospital, Catania, Italy.

Background: Arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) is a rare condition often associated with previous spine surgery. Here we describe a unique case of a patient affected by ankylosing spondylitis (AS), presenting with progressive neurologic deterioration due to AO. We also review the literature on evaluation and management of patients suffering from AO. Read More

Neuromodulation 2019 Jan 2;22(1):117-118. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Tuebingen, Germany.