Current Advances in the Management of Adult Craniopharyngiomas

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are slow growing, histologically benign intracranial tumors located in the sellar–suprasellar region. Although known to have low mortality, their location and relationship to the adjacent neural structures results in patients having significant neurologic, endocrine, and visual comorbidities. The invasive nature of this tumor makes complete resection a challenge and contributes to its recurrence. Additionally, these tumors are bimodally distributed, being treated with surgery, and are followed by other adjuncts, such as focused radiation therapy, e.g., Gamma knife. Advances in surgical techniques, imaging tools, and instrumentations have resulted in the evolution of surgery using endoscopic techniques, with residual components being treated by radiotherapy to target the residual tumor. Advances in molecular biology have elucidated the main pathways involved in tumor development and recurrence, but presently, no other treatments are offered to patients, besides surgery, radiation, and endocrine management, as the disease and tumor evolve. We review the contemporary management of these tumors, from the evolution of surgical treatments, utilizing standard open microscopic approaches to the more recent endoscopic surgery, and discuss the current recommendations for care of these patients. We discuss the developments in radiation therapy, such as radiosurgery, being used as treatment strategies for craniopharyngioma, highlighting their beneficial effects on tumor resections while decreasing the rates of adverse outcomes. We also outline the recent chemotherapy modalities, which help control tumor growth, and the immune landscape on craniopharyngiomas that allow the development of novel immunotherapies.     

儿童颅咽管瘤的手术治疗27例体会

背景与目的：儿童颅咽管瘤是好发于鞍区的良性肿瘤,目前主要的治疗方法是手术切除肿瘤,选择适当的入路既可将肿瘤完整切除又能避免肿瘤周围重要的神经结构损伤,是减少肿瘤复发及术后并发症的关键。我们选择27例手术治疗儿童颅咽管瘤的临床资料以探讨治疗儿童颅咽管瘤的手术入路选择、手术技巧。方法：回顾分析27例儿童颅咽管瘤患者手术治疗的临床资料,总结治疗过程中的体会。结果：27例中肿瘤镜下全切22例,次全切3例,部分切除2例。手术经额硬膜下入路18例,经翼点入路4例,经蝶入路切除3例,经半球间-纵裂入路2例。24例获随访2个月至5年,效果良好者21例,生活需照顾者2例,死亡1例,最常见的术后并发症为垂体功能低下及尿崩。结论：显微外科手术全切颅咽管瘤,效果良好,额下入路能提供鞍上大颅咽管瘤手术切除良好的暴露。     

Early outcome in endoscopic extended endonasal approach for removal of supradiaphragmatic craniopharyngiomas: a case series and a comprehensive review

Background

The choice of endoscopic expanded endonasal approach introduces the possibility of improved gross total resection of craniopharyngioma while minimizing surgical morbidity in a significant subset of patients.

Methods

From our trans-sphenoidal surgical series of 331 cases, we retrospectively reviewed visual, endocrine and neuro-cognitive outcomes in the first consecutive eight patients (median age 63 years; range 47–73 years) with newly diagnosed supradiaphragmatic craniopharyngioma (median tumour height 23 mm; range 15–34 mm), removed by expanded endonasal approach (median follow-up 27 months; range 10–69 months). Gross total resection was attempted in all patients.

Results

Gross total resection was achieved in 6 of 8 patients. Visual improvement was present in 6 of 8 patients of patients or in 14 of 16 eyes. New endocrinopathy, including diabetes insipidus, appeared in 5 of 8 patients. Stalk was preserved in 4 patients. Cognitive decline was present in 2 cases. Five of 8 patients retained previous quality of life.

Conclusions

Our early outcome results are comparable to the recent few expanded endonasal approach series, except for the incidence of new endocrinopathy and cerebrospinal fluid leak rate. This was influenced by higher number of transinfundibular tumours in our series, where stalk preservation is less likely, and not using nasoseptal flap or gasket closure in the first half of cases. Including data from the literature and ours, expanded endonasal approach shows a trend for improved gross total resection rate with less morbidity, more obviously for visual outcome and quality of life than for endocrine outcome. However, validity of expanded endonasal approach should be confirmed in a larger number of patients with a longer follow-up period.     

The Utility of External Beam Radiation and Intracystic 32 P Radiation in the Treatment of Craniopharyngiomas

Background. The management of craniopharyngiomas has historically been controversial in terms of the extent of initial surgical resection and the use of additional treatments. Various options include radical excision versus a more conservative surgical approach followed by external beam radiation; most recently, intracystic ³² P radiation has been used in selected patients. Methods. We reviewed our experience with 25 patients with craniopharyngiomas treated between 1984 and 1999 to assess the effectiveness of external beam radiation and intracystic ³² P radiation therapy in preventing progression and recurrence of local disease. Results. All patients underwent surgery as a component of initial therapy for their histologically-proven craniopharyngiomas. Fifteen patients additionally received external beam radiation. Forty-five percent of patients who underwent incomplete resections followed by external beam radiation required additional therapy. In contrast, 80% of patients who had incomplete resections without post-operative external beam radiation required further treatment. Seven patients had intracystic ³² P colloid injections. Neither of the two patients receiving ³² P intracystic radiation as part of their initial therapy needed further treatment. Only one of the five patients receiving ³² P intracavitary radiation for disease progression following initial therapy required further intervention. Of the remaining four patients, three enjoyed responses to treatment and one had stable disease. Conclusions. Our observations support the use of external beam radiation for prevention of tumor progression in adults unable to receive a complete surgical resection. Our results additionally suggest that intracystic ³² P radiation results in control of cystic components of craniopharyngiomas in the majority of cases.     

神经内镜扩大经鼻蝶切除术与开颅术切除颅咽管瘤的疗效对比

目的:研究颅咽管瘤患者采用神经内镜扩大经鼻蝶切除术与开颅术切除的临床效果。方法:临床纳入我院2015年6月至2018年1月期间收治的76例颅咽管瘤患者作为研究对象,按手术情况分为两组各38例。其中38例患者采用传统开颅切除术治疗作为开颅组,另38例患者采用神经内镜扩大经鼻蝶切除术治疗作为内镜组。观察两组患者手术情况、临床缓解率、肿瘤切除率以及并发症情况。结果:两组患者手术时间、出血量均无差异,P＞0.05;内镜组住院时间明显短于开颅组,P＜0.05。内镜组肿瘤全切率、临床缓解率分别为65.79%、86.84%,均高于开颅组的47.37%、55.26%,P＜0.05。两组患者并发症包括颅内感染、偏瘫、颅神经损伤、腺垂体功能减退以及癫痫。内镜组发生率仅为15.79%,明显低于开颅组的44.74%,P＜0.05。结论:神经内镜扩大经鼻蝶切除术治疗颅咽管瘤效果较好,患者预后较好,缩短住院时间,提高肿瘤全切率及临床缓解率,减少术后并发症,安全可靠,值得临床应用及推广。     

神经内镜下经鼻蝶治疗垂体肿瘤的研究进展

神经內镜下垂体肿瘤切除术取代传统显微镜下经鼻蝶垂体瘤切除术,是使用经鼻內镜从正常生理鼻腔空隙直达蝶窦切除肿瘤的手术方法。神经内镜以其创伤小、术程短、术式简洁、术后恢复快等优点,逐渐成为治疗垂体肿瘤的首选手术方式。本文对目前国内外应用神经内镜治疗垂体肿瘤适应症、并发症、手术技巧、新技术的使用等相关临床进展进行综述,旨在能够更好的应用该技术以提高垂体肿瘤的手术治疗效果。      

儿童期颅咽管瘤的诊断与经蝶显微手术治疗

 目的　提高儿童期颅咽管瘤的诊断水平与手术治疗效果。方法　回顾性总结 2 5例颅咽管瘤的诊断措施 ,手术技巧和治疗结果。本组均经 CT或 MRI扫描确诊。手术采取经蝶入路行肿瘤切除术。结果　 1 3例肿瘤获全切除 ;8例次全切除 ;余 4例为部分切除 ,术后无死亡。2 0例获长期随访 (平均 3.6年 ) ,其中 1 7例 (85.0 % )恢复良好 ,3例 (1 5.0 % )肿瘤复发 ,需行再次手术治疗。结论　对儿童期颅咽管瘤采用 CT或 MRI进行诊断并选择合适病例经蝶入路显微手术切除 ,是一种安全、有效的方法。     

不同入路切除鞍区脑膜瘤83例临床分析

目的 探讨不同入路显微外科手术切除鞍区脑膜瘤的临床疗效.方法 根据显微手术入路的不同将83例鞍区脑膜瘤患者分为翼点入路组27例,额下入路组30例以及纵裂入路组26例.对3组患者肿瘤切除效果、GCS评分、并发症发生率以及生活质量改善情况进行观察比较.结果 翼点入路组、额下入路组及纵裂入路组肿瘤切除总有效率分别为92.59％、90.00％及92.31％,3组差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).3组患者术后第7天GCS评分均得到显著改善,差异较手术前1天有统计学意义(P＜0.05).手术后纵裂入路组GCS评分明显高于翼点入路组及额下入路组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).翼点入路组、额下入路组及纵裂入路组并发症发生率分别为22.22％、23.33％及7.69％,纵裂入路组明显低于其他两组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).3组患者术后生活质量改善总有效率无统计学差异(P＞0.05).纵裂入路组生活质量改善率显著高于翼点入路组及额下入路组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 纵裂入路切除鞍区脑膜瘤具有最好的临床疗效,可有效改善患者症状及生活质量、降低并发症发生率,对于患者恢复具有积极的意义.     

不同手术入路的腹腔镜手术治疗直肠癌的疗效及安全性

目的探讨不同手术入路的腹腔镜手术治疗直肠癌的疗效及安全性。方法选择接受腹腔镜手术治疗的156例直肠癌患者作为研究对象,根据入院先后顺序,采用随机数字表法分为A组和B组,各78例。A组采用头侧中间入路,B组采用传统中间入路。比较2组术后病理TNM分期、组织学分化程度,记录术中和术后主要结局指标,淋巴结清扫结果及手术相关并发症发生情况,随访12个月,观察术后生存、肿瘤复发或转移情况。结果所有患者均顺利完成手术,未见中转开腹病例,手术切缘均为阴性。在A组和B组中分别有2例(2.56%)、3例(3.85%)患者第253组淋巴结病理学检查结果显示肿瘤学阳性,2组术后病理TNM分期及组织学分化程度比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。2组术中出血量、术后肛门排气时间、住院时间比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组手术时间明显短于B组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组淋巴结清扫数目比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);A组清扫肠系膜下动脉(IMA)周围淋巴结时间明显短于B组,第253组淋巴结清扫数目明显多于B组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。所有患者均获得随访,未见肿瘤相关死亡、复发或转移病例;2组手术相关并发症发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论头侧中间入路的腹腔镜手术治疗直肠癌可获得与传统中间入路相当的近期疗效,安全性可靠,在手术视野暴露、进入正确解剖间隙和清扫第253组淋巴结上具有优势,值得进一步研究应用。     

经小脑幕入路与经岩骨乙状窦前入路治疗岩斜区脑膜瘤的效果观察

目的比较经小脑幕入路与经岩骨乙状窦前入路治疗岩斜区脑膜瘤的效果。方法60例岩斜区脑膜瘤患者均采取脑膜瘤切除术治疗,按照手术入路方式不同分为2组。对照组经小脑幕入路,观察组经岩骨乙状窦前入路。比较2组术后并发症、手术切除程度,手术前后的NIHSS评分值,术后3年的复发情况。结果观察组的手术根治性切除率明显高于对照组(P<0.05),但观察组的术后并发症发生率明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。2组术后1、4、8个月的NIHSS评分值均明显低于术前(P<0.05),且观察组明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组的肿瘤复发率为3.13%(1/32),明显低于对照组的14.29%(4/28)(P<0.05)。结论经岩骨乙状窦前入路对岩斜区脑膜瘤的切除率明显高于经小脑幕入路,且术后神经功能损伤恢复更为显著、复发率较低,但有较高的术后并发症发生风险。     

经翼点入路显微手术切除小儿颅咽管瘤20例

目的　探讨提高手术根治颅咽管瘤的方法。方法　对 2 0例颅咽管瘤 ,均在全麻下行翼点入路 ,采用显微外科技术 ,根据肿瘤的位置 ,采用视交叉前间隙、颈内动脉和视神经间隙及颈内动脉外侧等间隙切除肿瘤。结果　全切除 16例、近全切除 3例、大部切除 1例。近期明显好转 14例、改善 4例、无变化及死亡各 1例。半年以上随访 18例 ,能正常生活者 16例 ,生活需人照顾 2例。结论　翼点入路手术能满足鞍区多种类型颅咽管瘤的显露 ,能提高肿瘤全切率及治愈率。     

The Role of Surgical Resection in the Management of Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

To assess the role of surgical resection in the management ofsmall cell carcinoma of the lung, experience with 118 patientswho were treated between 1973 and 1985 was reviewed. Twenty-fivepatients underwent surgical resection followed by combinationchemotherapy in all except one. The remaining 93 pa tients weretreated by combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The 5-year survival rate for patients with stage I disease undergoingsurgical resection was 50.8%. For all 25 patients operated on,the 5-year survival rate was 30.7%. In the patients not operated on, only those with complete responsehad long-term survival, for whom the 5-year survival rate was11.9% We consider that surgical resection is definitely indicatedin patients with stage I disease. If the response to initialchemotherapy is very good, patients with stage 11 or T3N0M0disease also probably should receive resection. Patients withN2 disease are not candidates for resection, unless distantmetastases are controlled completely by intensive chemotherapy.     

The Role of Endorectal Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Management of Early Rectal Lesions in a Tertiary Center

BackgroundIn early rectal cancer, ERUS has a vital role in determining radical or local excision based on identification of T-stage. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMs) has a reduced morbidity and mortality compared with radical surgery. Correct identification of lesions that can be managed with TEMs is therefore imperative. Our aim was to assess the accuracy of ERUS in identifying mucosal/submucosal lesions and thus their suitability for TEMs.Patients and MethodsA retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent ERUS was carried out over an initial 25-month period at a tertiary colorectal center. Our main outcome measures were T-stage measured using ERUS or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (indicating suitability for local excision, ie, ≤ T1) with correlation with that of the subsequent surgical specimen and improvement in accuracy over time. After data analysis and review, the study was repeated over the subsequent 12 months to establish whether there was a learning curve with the use of ERUS.ResultsOver the initial period, 52 patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent ERUS. T-staging was accurate in 73.1% (38/52) with identification of ≤ T1 lesions having a sensitivity of 70.8% and a specificity 100%. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRI was similar to that of ERUS (72.7%, 70.0%, and 100% respectively). Over the subsequent period, 23 patients underwent ERUS with T-staging accuracy improving to 78.3% (18/23) (P = .777).ConclusionIn our experience, ERUS is a useful adjunct to clinical assessment and pelvic MRI in determining suitability for local excision. Its 100% specificity in determining that a lesion is limited to the mucosa or submucosa aids in the assessment of lesions that are being considered for submucosal resection. Over the time periods assessed, improvement in T-staging accuracy was demonstrated, which might be due to the presence of a learning curve.     

The Role of Radiotherapy in the Control of Midbrain Tumours

This study examined 37 patients who were referred to the Queensland Radium Institute between 1980 and 1989 with tumours of the midbrain to determine if there were any factors which were associated with an improved prognosis. In those patients in whom histology was available, the grade of the tumour was of importance. High grade tumours had a shorter survival than low grade tumours. There was a dose response effect with increasing survival as the dose increased from less than 45Gy up to 50Gy. There were no deaths beyond two years, implying that two year survival is an indicator of long term survival.     

The Changing Role of Stereotaxis in Surgical Neuro-Oncology

PURPOSE: Evaluate evolution and time course of stereotactic neurosurgery within surgical neuro-oncology. METHODS: MEDLINE search 1966-2003 sub-stratified and analyzed for annual trends. AANS/CNS membership databases for Joint Sections. ACRC neuro-oncology program database 1998-2003. RESULTS: Tumor stereotaxis emerged in 1980 and became the dominant stereotactic publication topic by 1984. Frame-based tumor stereotaxis led publications through 1994, when supplanted by stereotactic radiosurgery (SR). Brachytherapy led SR 1982-1987, but then fell behind, reducing to pre-1983 levels by 1996. SR publications currently comprise 65% of stereotactic tumor articles and publication rate continues to rise at a steady rate. Frameless stereotaxis (FS) publications began to increase in 1993 and growth is larger than the corresponding fall in frame-based volumetric resection publications. Data suggest increased utilization for cases that would have otherwise utilized ultrasound or gone without image guidance. Intraoperative MR developed predominantly as complimentary technology to FS. Tumor diagnostic needle biopsy publications continue to be mostly frame-based, while FS techniques are largely resection focused. This may change as >80% of our tumors biopsied with frame-based techniques would be candidates for FS biopsy based solely on lesion size, location, and technique accuracy considerations. CNS parenchymal delivery of experimental therapies continues to be predominantly frame-based. CONCLUSION: The role of tumor stereotaxis in surgical neuro-oncology is important, but changing. SR is increasingly dominating the subspecialty. Stereotactic tumor resection has become a mainstream neurosurgical procedure due to FS, and this will likely occur with needle biopsy as well. Delivery of experimental therapies remains predominantly frame-based, but may need to transition to FS in order to gain wider mainstream acceptance and applicability once efficacy is demonstrated.     

The Surgical Management of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a variable natural history. Therefore, optimal management remains challenging. While many men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer may be candidates for active surveillance, there are others who will benefit from aggressive local therapy. Radical prostatectomy is associated with improvements in cancer-specific mortality, metastasis-free survival, and need for palliative treatments when compared with observation in several randomized controlled trials. Additionally, radical prostatectomy may have some oncologic benefit over radiation therapy. All aggressive therapy for prostate cancer negatively impacts erectile function and urinary continence. The decision for which treatment modality to pursue should incorporate shared decision making and consider cancer risk and severity in addition to patient preferences.