Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Dev Neurorehabil 2021 May 12:1-10. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

This study addresses the issue of drawing valid conclusions about the assessment of executive functioning (EF) in long-term survivors of pediatric posterior fossa tumors (PPFT). All 44 patients (females = 18, mean age = 11 years) were treated consecutively at our department for PPFTs (medulloblastomas, ependymomas, low-grade-gliomas). Four years after diagnosis, their EF was investigated, considering age at diagnosis and treatment type. Read More

Ann Diagn Pathol 2021 Apr 19;53:151745. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Departments of Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Background: Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) are a heterogenous group clinically, pathologically and topographically. Due to limited cases, data regarding its molecular genetics, pathology and prognostic factors is evolving. We retrospectively analysed our cohort of ETMR over last decade in order to study their clinicopathological characteristics and outcome. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2021 Apr 30. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

The Neurosurgical Atlas, Carmel, Indiana, USA.

Background: Understanding the microsurgical anatomical features of the endoscopy-assisted retrosigmoid intradural suprameatal approach (RISA) is critical for surgeons treating petroclival tumors or lesions in the cerebellopontine region that extend into Meckel's cave.

Objective: To evaluate increased exposure for Meckel's cave in the RISA and assess the surgical landmarks for this approach.

Methods: A standard retrosigmoid craniotomy to the cerebellopontine region was performed in 4 cadaveric specimens (8 hemispheres) with microscope-assisted endoscopy. Read More

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2021 Apr 1;22(4):1129-1136. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Background: To evaluate the role of diffusion MRI in differentiating pediatric posterior fossa tumors and determine the cut-off values of ADC ratio to distinguish medulloblastoma from other common tumors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed MRI of 90 patients (7.5-year median age) with pathologically proven posterior fossa tumors (24 medulloblastoma, 7 ependymoma, 4 anaplastic ependymoma, 13 pilocytic astrocytoma, 30 diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), 4 ATRT, 3 diffuse astrocytoma, 2 high grade astrocytoma, 2 glioblastoma, and 1 low grade glioma). Read More

World J Surg Oncol 2021 Apr 22;19(1):134. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Radiology, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Background: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric embryonal tumor. Accurate identification of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) dissemination is important in prognosis prediction. Both MRI of the central nervous system (CNS) and CSF cytology will appear false positive and negative. Read More

BMC Cancer 2021 Apr 22;21(1):447. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

Background: This study investigates the patterns of PET-positive lymph nodes (LNs) in anal cancer. The aim was to provide information that could inform future anal cancer radiotherapy contouring guidelines.

Methods: The baseline [18F]-FDG PET-CTs of 190 consecutive anal cancer patients were retrospectively assessed. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2021 17;12:106. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to posterior and middle fossae tumors, whether ipsilateral or contralateral, has been well described. However, this disabling disease has never been reported in the context of anterior fossa neoplasms.

Case Description: A 75-year-old female with right hemifacial pain was diagnosed with an anterior clinoid meningioma. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Apr;100(16):e25373

Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University; 37 Guo Xue Xiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China.

Introduction: Radiation induced gliomas often occurs after radiation therapy for other brain tumors. Medulloblastoma often occurs in children and its associated radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme's (GBM) after radiotherapy often has a long latency period. Our case is very unique because the medulloblastoma was detected at an advance age and the latency period of radiation-induced GBM was relatively shorter. Read More

Sleep Med X 2020 Dec 13;2:100012. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Complexo Hospital de Clinicas - Universidade Federal of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.

Ondine's curse is one of the most enchanting mythical tales in the field of Medicine. The nymph Ondine was an immortal water spirit who became human after falling in love for a man, marrying him, and having a baby. In one of the versions of the tale, when she caught her husband sleeping with another woman, she cursed him to remain awake in order to control his own breathing. Read More

Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko 2021 ;85(2):17-25

Voino-Yasenetsky Research and Practical Center for Specialized Medical Care, Moscow, Russia.

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of resection quality on overall survival and disease-free survival in children with atypical teratoid-rhabdoid tumors (ATRT). The study included children younger than 18 years old for the period from 2008 to 2019. There were 134 interventions in 105 patients with ATRT including 11 redo resections («second-look» surgery) and 18 procedures for tumor recurrence. Read More

Brain Connect 2021 Apr 15. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Georgia State University, 1373, Psychology and the Neuroscience Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, United States;

Assessments of functional connectivity of default mode network (DMN) and positively task-related networks (TRNs) using independent component analysis (ICA) may help describe long-term effects of childhood brain tumors and adjuvant treatments. Aiming to identify potential neuronal markers that may aid in prognosis and inform interventions to optimize outcomes, the present study used ICA to evaluate the presence of functional connectivity networks and their recruitment during a letter n-back task in 23 adult survivors of childhood posterior fossa tumors (9 low grade, 14 high grade) at least 5 years past diagnosis compared to 40 age- and sex-matched healthy peers. DMN components generally demonstrated increasing disengagement as task difficulty increased, and relationships between effective DMN disengagement and improved performance were observed in healthy controls (HC). Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2021 Apr;20(5):E342-E343

Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Trigeminal schwannomas are benign tumors amendable to curative surgical resection.1 Excellent outcomes, with preservation and improvement of cranial nerve function, including trigeminal nerve function, have been reported with microsurgical resection through skull base approaches.2 Dumbell shaped tumors, involving the middle and posterior fossa, are more challenging. Read More

Nat Commun 2021 04 12;12(1):2148. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

Deregulation of chromatin modifiers plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma, the most common paediatric malignant brain tumour. Here, we identify a BMI1-dependent sensitivity to deregulation of inositol metabolism in a proportion of medulloblastoma. We demonstrate mTOR pathway activation and metabolic adaptation specifically in medulloblastoma of the molecular subgroup G4 characterised by a BMI1;CHD7 signature and show this can be counteracted by IP6 treatment. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2021 Apr 10. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the rates and potential risks of surgical site infection (SSI) after posterior fossa surgery for tumour resection in children.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our local paediatric (age < 16 years) database for all cases of posterior fossa (PF) brain tumour surgery between November 2008 and November 2019. We collected patient demographics, tumour histology/location, and the event of postoperative surgical site infection. Read More

World Neurosurg 2021 Apr 8;150:171. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

The pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) is an inverted, pyramid-shaped space immediately behind the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus, and lesions arising here include juvenile angiofibromas, schwannomas, and, in exceptionally rare cases, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Surgical access to the PPF is challenging and has been historically achieved via an open transmaxillary approach associated with facial scaring/deformity as well as potential injury to facial and infraorbital nerve branches. We present the case of a 67-year-old woman with facial numbness secondary to a presumed trigeminal schwannoma in the right PPF on magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Background: Posterior fossa syndrome (PFS) is a known consequence of medulloblastoma resection. Our aim was to clinically define PFS, its evolution over time, and ascertain risk factors for its development and poor recovery.

Methods: Children with medulloblastoma treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital from 6/2013-7/2019 received standardized neurological examinations, before and periodically after radiation therapy. Read More

Insights Imaging 2021 Apr 6;12(1):43. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Neurosurgery Department, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar City, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Manifestations of an atypical variant of medulloblastoma of the posterior fossa in extra-axial locations have been reported, and key questions concerning its interpretation have been raised previously. This review illustrated the clinico-radiological and histopathological features of the posterior fossa extra-axial medulloblastoma and described possible management strategies. We thoroughly reviewed all atypical anatomical locations of medulloblastoma reported within the posterior fossa and extra-axial spaces. Read More

Arch Ital Biol 2020 12;158(3-4):74-81

Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dicle, 21280, Diyarbakır, Turkey - Email:

Posterior fossa tumors (PFTs) include medulloblastomas, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, pilocytic astrocytomas, ependymomas, and brainstem gliomas. We evaluated patients with surgery at our clinic, comparing epidemiological, clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of medulloblastoma and ependymoma to identify factors that might assist preoperative diagnosis, help to develop treatment algorithms, and have prognostic value after surgery. Pediatric patients from 0 to 16 and young adults from 16 to 29 years of age with surgery for pathologically confirmed ependymomas or medulloblastomas between January 2014 and January 2020 were eligible. Read More

Dose Response 2021 Jan-Mar;19(1):15593258211002061. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Otosurgery Unit, ULSS2, Treviso Hospital, Treviso, Italy.

Introduction: Intracranial epidermoid cysts are the most frequent congenital intracranial lesion. They rare and benign tumors that can present in different clinical situations depending on location and extension of the disease. Diagnosis is obtained with radiological imaging with RM and non-enhanced TC as elective investigating methods. Read More

Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2021 Apr;26(2):212-215

From the Department of Neurosurgery (Onen, Yüvrük), VM Maltepe Medicalpark Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery (Sarikaya, Naderi), Umraniye Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Meningiomas are benign, slow-growing tumors originating from arachnoid gap cells. They constitute 15%-20% of all intracranial tumors in adults and 04%-4% in the pediatric age group. Meningiomas in the posterior fossa in the pediatric period do not initially come to mind. Read More

Anticancer Res 2021 Apr;41(4):1715-1726

Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most frequent malignant brain tumor in children. Treatment of MB is based on histopathological and molecular stratification, and includes surgical intervention, often with craniospinal irradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy. Unfortunately, however, this treatment leads to a high morbidity rate, and it does not cure all patients either, with around 30% succumbing to their disease. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2021 Apr 3. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, P.O. Box 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background: Hemangioblastomas (HGBs) are highly vascular benign tumors, commonly located in the posterior fossa, and 80% of them are sporadic. Patients usually present with features of raised intracranial pressure and cerebellar symptoms. HGB can be classified as either mostly cystic or solids. Read More

Biomedicines 2021 Mar 30;9(4). Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Adult brain tumors mostly distinguish themselves from their pediatric counterparts. However, some typical pediatric brain tumors also occur in adults. The aim of this review is to describe the differences between classification, treatment, and outcome of medulloblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, and craniopharyngioma in adults and children. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 15;13(6). Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany.

(1) Background: As resection of trigeminal schwannomas is challenging, due to anatomical involvement of the anterior, middle and posterior fossa, the appropriate approach is important. We report our experience with surgical resection of trigeminal schwannomas by simple and classic skull-base approaches. (2) Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center study including patients who underwent surgery for trigeminal schwannoma tumors between June 2007 and May 2020, concentrating on surgical technique, extent of resection, postoperative outcome and complications. Read More

Healthcare (Basel) 2021 Mar 17;9(3). Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Department of Law, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy.

Primary cerebral tumors rarely provoke sudden death. The incidence is often underestimated with reported frequencies in the range of 0.02 to 2. Read More

Pediatr Neurosurg 2021 29;56(3):279-285. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Nerosurgery Unit, Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño San Borja, Lima, Peru.

Introduction: Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD), also known as dysplastic cerebellar gangliocytoma, is an uncommon disorder in children, characterized by being a slow-growing lesion of the posterior fossa, which mainly affects the granular cell layer of the cerebellar parenchyma and may be associated with other multiple hereditary hamartomas and neoplasms.

Case Presentation: We report 2 cases of LDD in pediatric patients and describe clinical symptoms and radiological and histopathological characteristics. In addition, we analyzed the relation to Cowden Syndrome based on the International Cowden Syndrome Consortium Operational Criteria and the most updated guidelines by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN Guidelines Version 1. Read More

J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2021 Apr 18;82(2):244-250. Epub 2019 Sep 18.

Surgical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Bethesda, Maryland, United States.

 Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients report that swallowing and speech problems significantly affect their quality of life, but the etiology of these phenomena is poorly understood. Swallowing and speech deficits may arise due to the neuropathy of involved nerves, due to posterior fossa tumor growth, or as iatrogenic effects from neurosurgical procedures to remove these tumors. This study aims to identify the natural history of swallowing and speech deficits in an NF2 cohort and to characterize the factors that may lead to those deficits. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2021 Mar 26. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North T-4224, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.

Primary brain tumors diagnosed during infancy present several challenges for the pediatric neurosurgeon including the management of tumor-related hydrocephalus. Infant tumor-related hydrocephalus (iTRH) is present in over 70% of new diagnoses overall and in over 90% of infants with infratentorial neoplasms. iTRH may be related to direct obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways, shedding of protein and/or cells leading to dysfunctional subarachnoid, tumor-related CSF production, or, most frequently, a combination of these mechanisms. Read More

Clin Ter 2021 Mar;172(2):99-103

Department of Radiology, Hanoi Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam.

Abstract: Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), a low incidence central nervous system (CNS) tumor, typically develops as an intraventricular neoplasm arising from the epithelium of the choroid plexus. Infratentorial CPP is predominantly clustered in adults with roughly 70% in the fourth ventricle, while supratentorial CPP commonly found in the lateral ventricles, is the most frequent location in children. The clinical and imaging features of CPP are not typical and may induce the misdiagnosis as other types of primary brain tumors. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 2;8:598190. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Doctoral Program, Department of Radiology, Hanoi Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam.

Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), a perfusion assessment without using gadolinium-based contrast agents, is outstandingly advantageous for pediatric patients. The differentiation of medulloblastomas from pilocytic astrocytomas in children plays a significant role in determining treatment strategies and prognosis. This study aimed to assess the use of ASL parameters during the differentiation between pediatric medulloblastoma and pilocytic astrocytoma. Read More