Ga-68-DOTA-TATE PET/CT for Discrimination of Tumors of the Optic Pathway

Purpose: Symptomatic tumors of the optic nerve pathway may endanger vision. They are difficult to classify by imaging alone and biopsy may damage visual function. Tumor pathology influences treatment decision and a diagnostic tool with a high sensitivity and specificity would therefore be invaluable. We hypothesized that Ga-68-DOTA-TATE PET/CT may help in discriminating optic nerve tumors as uptake of somatostatin is elevated in meningiomas.

Material and Methods: Ga-68-DOTA-TATE PET/CT was used to examine 13 patients with ambiguous, symptomatic lesions of the optic pathway for treatment planning. The presence or absence of meningioma was validated by histopathology or supplementary diagnostic work-up.

Results: Ga-68-DOTA-TATE PET/CT identified 10 meningiomas (en plaque?=?1, optic nerve sheath?=?4, sphenoidal?=?5) correctly via increased SSTR (somatostatin receptor) expression (mean SUV_max (maximum standardized uptake value)?=?14.3?±?15.4). 3 tumors did not show elevated Ga-68-DOTA-TATE uptake (SUV_max?=?2.1?±?1.0). Subsumizing all clinical-radiological follow-up tools available, these lesions were classified as an intracerebral metastasis of an advanced gastric carcinoma, histologically proven inflammatory collagenous connective tissue and presumed leukemic infiltration of a newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In this case series, Ga-68-DOTA-TATE PET/CT demonstrated both a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Yet, the golden standard of histopathology was only available in a subset of patients included.

Conclusion: Ga-68-DOTA-TATE PET/CT proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool for the correct classification of equivocal, symptomatic tumors of the anterior optic pathway requiring therapy. PET/CT results influenced therapy decision essentially in all cases.     

颅内血管周细胞瘤的影像学特点及显微外科手术治疗

目的探讨颅内血管周细胞瘤(HPC)的影像学特点及显微外科手术方法。方法回顾性分析显微外科手术治疗的26例颅内HPC患者的临床资料;包括影像学检查、手术方法及手术疗效。结果16例颅内HPC患者术前影像学诊断与术后病理诊断一致,6例患者术前被误诊为脑膜瘤,4例患者误诊为血管母细胞瘤。手术效果:肿瘤全切除者17例,次全切除5例,部分切除4例,无死亡患者。全部患者术后均行局部放疗。术后随访6~42个月,3例患者肿瘤复发。结论颅内HPC的影像学表现具有一定特点,仔细分析其影像学特点可提高术前诊断率。根据肿瘤的影像学表现制定手术方案,以及娴熟的显微外科技术,术中控制好出血,是提高颅内HPC全切除率和提高手术疗效的关键。     

经乙状窦后道上结节入路切除岩斜区脑膜瘤

目的 探讨经乙状窦后道上结节入路切除岩斜区脑膜瘤的手术技巧、疗效及适应证。方法 回顾性分析2016年5月—2019年3月采用该入路切除的15例岩斜区脑膜瘤患者的临床特征、手术方法及术后并发症。结果 15例术前均表现头痛、5例面部感觉减退、2例面部疼痛、1例听力下降。SimpsonⅡ级切除11例，Ⅲ级切除3例，Ⅳ级切除1例。平均随访15个月，无死亡，术后远期生活质量评估（KPS）评分80~90分。术后头痛15例均缓解，面部感觉减退3例缓解、2例加重、新增2例，面部疼痛2例缓解，听力下降1例未缓解，新增复视2例、6个月后均缓解。结论 掌握好适应证，经乙状窦后道上结节入路是切除岩斜脑膜瘤的较好途径。     

Paediatric meningiomas in Singapore — Case series of a rare entity

Paediatric meningiomas are extremely rare. These tumours constitute only 2 to 3% of all childhood brain tumours. Despite similarities in histological features between PMs and their adult counterparts, there are important distinctions between them. In this case series, the authors describe their experience in paediatric meningiomas in Singapore’s 2 children’s hospitals from 1998 to 2018. The primary aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics, and associated outcomes of paediatric patients diagnosed with meningioma managed in our local institutions. Following that, the study’s findings are secondary aims are corroborated with published literature. A total of 10 patients (4 males and 6 females) were identified for this study within the period of 01 January 1998 to 31 December 2018. Their ages ranged from 1 year old to 18 years old (median age 10.5 years old). Two of the patients had NF1 and NF2 respectively. There were 9 intracranial and 1 intraspinal paediatric meningiomas. Seven patients achieved gross total resection and 3 patients had subtotal resection. Eight patients did not have tumour recurrence or increase in size of tumour remnant during the course of their follow-up. In congruency with the literature, up to 40% of our patients had higher grade meningiomas and 55.6% had large tumour volumes more than 30 cm³. Owing to the paucity of knowledge for this unusual tumour, the authors emphasize the need for closer surveillance and in-depth genomic studies to identify novel therapies for this challenging condition.     

Significance of the simultaneous combined transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approach for prevention of postoperative CSF leak after surgery for lateral skull base meningioma

Lateral skull base meningiomas, particularly sphenoorbital meningiomas, sometimes extend extremely widely into adjacent structures including the paranasal sinuses. For endonasal skull base reconstruction using a vascularized nasoseptal flap for prevention of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, the simultaneous combined transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approach was applied for resection of these extensive tumors. We performed a retrospective review of four patients treated with the simultaneous combined transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approach for resection of lateral skull base meningiomas. Preoperative characteristics, tumor extent, extent of resection, complications, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. The tumor extended into the paranasal sinus, infratemporal fossa, and pterygopalatine fossa in all patients. Extracranial extension into the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure was detected in two and three patients, respectively. In one patient without extension into the cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure, gross total resection was achieved, whereas in the other three patients, subtotal resection was performed, and small residual masses of the tumor remained in the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure to minimize the risk of postoperative ocular nerve damage. No patients experienced postoperative CSF leak. The simultaneous combined transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approach is useful for a subgroup of patients with lateral skull base meningiomas for prevention of postoperative CSF leak. Particularly in recurrent cases in which vascularized flaps from the transcranial side are likely unavailable due to prior tumor resection, this combined approach is worth considering depending on tumor extension into the paranasal sinus.     

Diagnosis of optic nerve sheath meningioma during optic nerve sheath decompression

Optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) is typically diagnosed based on clinical suspicion and imaging characteristics and is most often treated with radiation. Historically, biopsy, optic nerve sheath decompression, and debulking surgeries have been avoided for fear of optic nerve vascular disruption and tumor spread into the orbit. This is a case of a 48-year-old man who presented with unilateral optic disc edema, declining visual acuity, and a visual field defect. Despite an initial improvement with acetazolamide, his vision subsequently worsened. With an elevated lumbar puncture opening pressure and imaging showing right optic nerve sheath enhancement, the differential diagnosis included ONSM, perineuritis and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Optic nerve sheath decompression (ONSD) with biopsy was performed, simultaneously decompressing the nerve and yielding a sample for pathologic analysis. A pathologic diagnosis of ONSM was made and treatment with radiation was subsequently initiated, but vision began to improve after the surgical decompression alone.     

巨大脑膜瘤术中术后脑肿胀的预防措施

目的探讨颅内巨大脑膜瘤术中术后脑肿胀脑膨出形成原因、预防措施及其并发症的防治。方法回顾性分析巨大脑膜瘤87例临床资料,通过精确定位、麻醉方法的改变、增加手术操作空间、减少脑组织牵拉、尽可能保留回流静脉以及肿瘤残腔的处理等综合措施,减少术中术后脑肿胀脑膨出发生率。结果87例患者中仅1例因脑肿胀、脑膨出影响手术进程。且根据脑膜瘤切除Simpson分级,肿瘤全切除(simpsonⅠ、Ⅱ)72例,次全切除(simpsonⅢ、Ⅳ)15例,无死亡病例。结论综合的、合理的预防措施能有效缓解术中术后脑肿胀脑膨出,提高巨大肿瘤的切除率并减少并发症发生。     

小脑幕褶皱脑膜瘤的分型与手术治疗

目的探讨小脑幕褶皱脑膜瘤的分型,并对预后结果进行回顾性分析研究。方法回顾性分析近11年间在我院经手术证实的起源于天幕褶皱的连续21例脑膜瘤。肿瘤最大直径1~6 cm,平均值为2.76 cm。症状包括瞳孔大小不等、复视、上睑下垂、偏盲和共济失调等。随访周期1~36个月不等。根据肿瘤生长部位,分为三种不同亚型。结果肿瘤切除程度达到SimpsonⅡ级19例,Ⅲ级1例,Ⅳ级1例。术后出现新的暂时性神经功能障碍2例,永久性神经功能障碍7例。2例神经功能障碍患者复查时得到恢复。结论小脑幕褶皱脑膜瘤术后永久性动眼神经、外展神经障碍的发生率较高,术前应予以充分考虑。并且寻找相对的平衡点,最大限度的提高患者的术后生活质量。