Surgical management for IgG4-related ophthalmic disease by a transcranial biopsy combined with extraorbital decompression: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Immunoglobulin G4–related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) accounts for 22% of Japanese lymphoproliferative orbital disease and occurs in 4%–34% of patients with IgG4-related disease, according to the largest case series published to date. Because the optic nerve mass often appears as a tumor-like lesion, it is important, although difficult, to differentiate IgG4-ROD from other orbital tumors and diseases, and biopsy is essential for diagnosis. Here, the authors describe the surgical management of an IgG4-ROD case.

OBSERVATIONS

A 63-year-old man presented to the authors’ hospital with proptosis and visual impairment. Ophthalmic examination revealed intraocular hypertension. IgG4-related disease with an ophthalmic lesion was suspected on the basis of a blood test and imaging studies. Transcranial biopsy with extraorbital decompression was performed. The patient’s symptoms, including visual impairment, improved 3 days after operation, and his IgG4-related disease resolved after corticosteroid treatment.

LESSONS

The standard treatment for IgG4-related disease is systemic corticosteroid therapy. However, this treatment should not be administered to patients with IgG4-ROD who a high risk of blindness. In this case, the authors completed a diagnostic and symptom-relieving transcranial biopsy without affecting the patient’s aesthetic characteristics. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to report extraorbital decompression via a transcranial approach as a surgical option for IgG4-ROD.

Evaluation of First-line Radiosurgery vs Whole-Brain Radiotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastases: The FIRE-SCLC Cohort Study

Importance

Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is preferred for limited brain metastases from most histologies, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has remained the standard of care for patients with small cell lung cancer. Data on SRS are limited.

Objective

To characterize and compare first-line SRS outcomes (without prior WBRT or prophylactic cranial irradiation) with those of first-line WBRT.

Design, Setting, and Participants

FIRE-SCLC (First-line Radiosurgery for Small-Cell Lung Cancer) was a multicenter cohort study that analyzed SRS outcomes from 28 centers and a single-arm trial and compared these data with outcomes from a first-line WBRT cohort. Data were collected from October 26, 2017, to August 15, 2019, and analyzed from August 16, 2019, to November 6, 2019.

Interventions

SRS and WBRT for small cell lung cancer brain metastases.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Overall survival, time to central nervous system progression (TTCP), and central nervous system (CNS) progression-free survival (PFS) after SRS were evaluated and compared with WBRT outcomes, with adjustment for performance status, number of brain metastases, synchronicity, age, sex, and treatment year in multivariable and propensity score-matched analyses.

Results

In total, 710 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 68.5 [62-74] years; 531 men [74.8%]) who received SRS between 1994 and 2018 were analyzed. The median overall survival was 8.5 months, the median TTCP was 8.1 months, and the median CNS PFS was 5.0 months. When stratified by the number of brain metastases treated, the median overall survival was 11.0 months (95% CI, 8.9-13.4) for 1 lesion, 8.7 months (95% CI, 7.7-10.4) for 2 to 4 lesions, 8.0 months (95% CI, 6.4-9.6) for 5 to 10 lesions, and 5.5 months (95% CI, 4.3-7.6) for 11 or more lesions. Competing risk estimates were 7.0% (95% CI, 4.9%-9.2%) for local failures at 12 months and 41.6% (95% CI, 37.6%-45.7%) for distant CNS failures at 12 months. Leptomeningeal progression (46 of 425 patients [10.8%] with available data) and neurological mortality (80 of 647 patients [12.4%] with available data) were uncommon. On propensity score-matched analyses comparing SRS with WBRT, WBRT was associated with improved TTCP (hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.26-0.55; P < .001), without an improvement in overall survival (median, 6.5 months [95% CI, 5.5-8.0] for SRS vs 5.2 months [95% CI, 4.4-6.7] for WBRT; P = .003) or CNS PFS (median, 4.0 months for SRS vs 3.8 months for WBRT; P = .79). Multivariable analyses comparing SRS and WBRT, including subset analyses controlling for extracranial metastases and extracranial disease control status, demonstrated similar results.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this study suggest that the primary trade-offs associated with SRS without WBRT, including a shorter TTCP without a decrease in overall survival, are similar to those observed in settings in which SRS is already established.

Acute surgery for a case of superior vermian arteriovenous malformation producing raised venous pressure coexisting with basilar-superior cerebellar artery aneurysm presenting subarachnoid hemorrhage; Case report

Background:

Superior vermian subtype of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) coexisting with proximal feeder aneurysm on basilar-superior cerebellar artery (BA-SCA) junction is an extremely rare situation. We experienced a case of this rare entity presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and herein, introduce the outline and clinical features of this experience together with the actual surgical video.

Case Description:

A 54-year-old man SAH patient with severe headache, disturbance of consciousness, and left oculomotor palsy was urgently admitted to our hospital. Imaging examination demonstrated superior vermian AVM with BA-SCA aneurysm, and both lesions were treated through two different approaches (left pterional craniotomy in conjunction with zygomectomy, and left posterior interhemispheric occipital transtentorial approach) in acute phase of SAH. Both lesions were completely disappeared postoperatively and the patient’s postoperative course was favorable, without symptomatic cerebral vasospasm. Although slight oculomotor palsy remained, the patient recovered well and was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital for further improvement.

Conclusion:

In the cases of AVM coexisting with proximal feeder aneurysm, presenting with SAH, disorders of intracranial venous return associated with an AVM can be a vital hindrance to managing cerebral vasospasm; therefore, treating both lesions in the acute phase may lead to good outcomes.

Paramedian thalamic infarction caused by cisternal drain placement in open clipping for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Two case reports

Background:

Some complications associated with cisternal drainage have been reported; however, there are few reports on direct vascular injury caused by cisternal drain. We experienced two rare cases of thalamic infarction caused by cisternal drain placement during open clipping for a ruptured anterior communicating artery (AcomA) aneurysm through an anterior interhemispheric approach.

Case Description:

Two cases of ruptured AcomA aneurysm were treated by surgical clipping through an anterior interhemispheric approach, and then a cisternal drain was inserted from opticocarotid space toward prepontine cistern. Postoperatively, the magnetic resonance imaging showed unilateral anterior-medial thalamic infarction in both two cases. By reviewing the postoperative computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography, it was suspected that the cisternal drain, which was inserted slightly deep, obstructed the P1 perforator because of an anatomical variation involving a lowered basilar bifurcation and caused postoperative unilateral paramedian thalamic infarction.

Conclusion:

To avoid these complications, neurosurgeons should consider the potential for P1 perforator injury related to cisternal drain placement.

Temporo-parietal muscle pedicle flap for reconstruction of the anterior skull base after resection of recurrent olfactory groove meningioma: a technical note

Reconstruction becomes the main issue in surgery for tumours penetrating the anterior skull base because it faces the nasal cavity. Vascularized flaps are desirable for preventing infection, but in re-opening surgery, tissue availability is limited. We report a case of recurrent olfactory groove meningioma in which the anterior skull base defect was reconstructed using a temporo-parietal muscle (TPM) pedicle flap. A 65-year-old woman presented with recurrent olfactory groove meningioma penetrating the anterior skull base. Because the frontal pericranium had been used in the initial surgery, the temporal fascia was harvested with a TPM pedicle flap from behind the initial bicoronal incision. After removal of the tumour, the pedicle flap reached the sphenoid planum easily and was sutured to the surrounding structures. The fascia lata was sutured as an inlay. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no cerebrospinal fluid leakage was observed. In re-opening surgery, a TPM pedicle flap can be an option for reconstruction of the anterior skull base.

The efficacy of temporary clamping of V3 with a suboccipital far-lateral approach in microvascular decompression for Hemifacial spasm associated with the vertebral artery

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is often caused by compression of the vertebral artery (VA) directly or indirectly as a result of other intervening vessels, so VA-associated HFS is difficult to treat. Recently, we have achieved good surgical outcomes using a far lateral approach and temporary clamping of V3 for VA-associated HFS. Herein, we present our method with an accompanying surgical video. From April 2018 to March 2019, 5 patients with VA-associated HFS underwent surgery, and pre-and postoperative symptoms and postoperative complications were evaluated. In the procedure, the suboccipital muscles were dissected and reflected layer by layer, and the extracranial VA (V3) was secured within the suboccipital triangle. A lateral suboccipital craniotomy followed by far lateral drilling was made to widen the surgical field from the caudolateral side. After reducing the VA flow pressure by temporary clamping of V3, the VA was transposed using a Teflon sling via two triangular space above and below the lower cranial nerves (LCNs). Causative vessels included direct VA compression in two cases and intervening vessels in three cases. The symptoms disappeared in four cases and improved satisfactorily in one case. One patient had mild hearing loss (approximately 10 dB) and hoarseness, but both improved 9 months after surgery. There was no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage in any cases. A wide surgical field via the far lateral approach and the temporary clamping of V3 contributed to thorough observation of the REZ and safe and complete VA transposition.

Surgical removal using V3-radial artery graft-V4 bypass and occipital artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery bypass for a giant thrombosed aneurysm of vertebral artery compressing brain stem: Case report

Background:

Giant thrombosed vertebral artery aneurysms (GTVAs) are difficult disease to treat. Here, we are reporting a case of GTVA successfully treated with excluding the pathological segment and restoring the anterograde blood flow of the parent artery, highlighting the reliable surgical procedure.

Case Description:

A 55-year-old man with a left GTVA complained of right hemiparesis (manual muscle testing 4/5) represented by hand clumsiness and gait disturbance, in addition to severe left-sided dysesthesia, was referred to our hospital. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) was incorporated into the GTVA segment, and the contralateral vertebral artery showed atherosclerotic change. Thus, we decided to treat the aneurysm with aneurysm trapping and thrombectomy, in conjunction with V3-radial artery graft (RAG)-V4 bypass and occipital artery (OA)-PICA bypass through a suboccipital transcondylar approach. The distal end of the dilated segment was meandering and deflecting outwardly to the vicinity of the internal auditory canal and was stretched in an axial direction. Thus, the V4 stump can be transposed to the triangle space made by the medulla, lower cranial nerves, and sigmoid sinus, and we could perform a safe and reliable anastomosis through the corridor. After the surgery, the compression of the brain stem was released, and right hemiparesis was improved completely after rehabilitation. The patient was discharged with a modified Rankin Scale score of 1.

Conclusion:

Trapping of the aneurysm and thrombectomy are the most radical treatment for GTVA, and if possible, reconstruction of anterograde blood flow with V3-RAG-V4 bypass and OA-PICA bypass is desirable.

Multiinstitutional prospective observational study of stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with multiple brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (JLGK0901 study-NSCLC)

OBJECTIVEPrevious Japanese Leksell Gamma Knife Society studies (JLGK0901) demonstrated the noninferiority of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone as the initial treatment for patients with 5-10 brain metastases (BMs) compared with those with 2-4 BMs in terms of overall survival and most secondary endpoints. The authors studied the aforementioned treatment outcomes in a subset of patients with BMs from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).METHODSPatients with initially diagnosed BMs treated with SRS alone were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Major inclusion criteria were the existence of up to 10 tumors with a maximum diameter of less than 3 cm each, a cumulative tumor volume of less than 15 cm3, and no leptomeningeal dissemination in patients with a Karnofsky Performance Scale score of 70% or better.RESULTSAmong 1194 eligible patients, 784 with NSCLC were categorized into 3 groups: group A (1 tumor, n = 299), group B (2-4 tumors, n = 342), and group C (5-10 tumors, n = 143). The median survival times were 13.9 months in group A, 12.3 months in group B, and 12.8 months in group C. The survival curves of groups B and C were very similar (hazard ratio [HR] 1.037; 95% CI 0.842-1.277; p < 0.0001, noninferiority test). The crude and cumulative incidence rates of neurological death, deterioration of neurological function, newly appearing lesions, and leptomeningeal dissemination did not differ significantly between groups B and C. SRS-induced complications occurred in 145 (12.1%) patients during the median post-SRS period of 9.3 months (IQR 4.1-17.4 months), including 46, 54, 29, 11, and 5 patients with a Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0 grade 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 complication, respectively. The cumulative incidence rates of adverse effects in groups A, B, and C 60 months after SRS were 13.5%, 10.0%, and 12.6%, respectively (group B vs C: HR 1.344; 95% CI 0.768-2.352; p = 0.299). The 60-month post-SRS rates of neurocognitive function preservation were 85.7% or higher, and no significant differences among the 3 groups were found.CONCLUSIONSIn this subset analysis of patients with NSCLC, the noninferiority of SRS alone for the treatment of 5-10 versus 2-4 BMs was confirmed again in terms of overall survival and secondary endpoints. In particular, the incidence of neither post-SRS complications nor neurocognitive function preservation differed significantly between groups B and C. These findings further strengthen the already-reported noninferiority hypothesis of SRS alone for the treatment of patients with 5-10 BMs.

The impact of EGFR-TKI use on clinical outcomes of lung adenocarcinoma patients with brain metastases after Gamma Knife radiosurgery: a propensity score-matched analysis based on extended JLGK0901 dataset (JLGK0901-EGFR-TKI)

PURPOSE

Recent advances in targeted therapy have prolonged overall survival (OS) for patients with lung cancer. The impact of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) on brain metastases (BM) treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has not, however, been fully elucidated. We investigated the influence of post-SRS EGFR-TKI use on the efficacy and toxicity of SRS for BM from lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We used the updated dataset of the Japanese Leksell Gamma Knife (JLGK) 0901 study, which proved the efficacy of Gamma Knife SRS in patients with BM. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was employed to determine the impact of concurrent or post-SRS EGFR-TKI use on OS, neurological death, intracranial disease recurrence and SRS-related adverse events.

RESULTS

Among 1194 patients registered in the JLGK0901 study, 608 eligible lung adenocarcinoma patients were identified and 238 (39%) had received EGFR-TKI concurrently or during the post-SRS clinical course. After PSM, there were 200 patient pairs with/without post-SRS EGFR-TKI use. EGFR-TKI use was associated with longer OS (median 25.5 vs. 11.0 months, HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.48-0.75, p < 0.001), although the long-term OS curves eventually crossed. Distant intracranial recurrence was more likely in patients receiving EGFR-TKI (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.12-1.89, p = 0.005). Neurological death, local recurrence and SRS-related adverse event rates did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although patients receiving EGFR-TKI concurrently or after SRS had significantly longer OS, the local treatment efficacy and toxicity of SRS did not differ between patients with/without EGFR-TKI use.

Local tumor progression treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery: differences between patients with 2-4 versus 5-10 brain metastases based on an update of a multi-institutional prospective observational study (JLGK0901)

OBJECTIVE

The Japanese Leksell Gamma Knife (JLGK)0901 study proved the efficacy of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in patients with 5-10 brain metastases (BMs) as compared to those with 2-4, showing noninferiority in overall survival and other secondary endpoints. However, the difference in local tumor progression between patients with 2-4 and those with 5-10 BMs has not been sufficiently examined for this data set. Thus, the authors reappraised this issue, employing the updated JLGK0901 data set with detailed observation via enhanced MRI. They applied sophisticated statistical methods to analyze the data.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study of 1194 patients harboring 1-10 BMs treated with GKRS alone. Patients were categorized into groups A (single BM, 455 cases), B (2-4 BMs, 531 cases), and C (5-10 BMs, 208 cases). Local tumor progression was defined as a 20% increase in the maximum diameter of the enhanced lesion as compared to its smallest documented maximum diameter on enhanced MRI. The authors compared cumulative incidence differences determined by competing risk analysis and also conducted propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Local tumor progression was observed in 212 patients (17.8% overall, groups A/B/C: 93/89/30 patients). Cumulative incidences of local tumor progression in groups A, B, and C were 15.2%, 10.6%, and 8.7% at 1 year after GKRS; 20.1%, 16.9%, and 13.5% at 3 years; and 21.4%, 17.4%, and not available at 5 years, respectively. There were no significant differences in local tumor progression between groups B and C. Local tumor progression was classified as tumor recurrence in 139 patients (groups A/B/C: 68/53/18 patients), radiation necrosis in 67 (24/31/12), and mixed/undetermined lesions in 6 (1/5/0). There were no significant differences in tumor recurrence or radiation necrosis between groups B and C. Multivariate analysis using the Fine-Gray proportional hazards model revealed age < 65 years, neurological symptoms, tumor volume ≥ 1 cm3, and prescription dose < 22 Gy to be significant poor prognostic factors for local tumor progression. In the subset of 558 case-matched patients (186 in each group), there were no significant differences between groups B and C in local tumor progression, nor in tumor recurrence or radiation necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Local tumor progression incidences did not differ between groups B and C. This study proved that tumor progression after GKRS without whole-brain radiation therapy for patients with 5-10 BMs was satisfactorily treated with the doses prescribed according to the JLGK0901 study protocol and that results were not inferior to those in patients with a single or 2-4 BMs.Clinical trial registration no.: UMIN000001812 (umin.ac.jp).

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for brain metastases from pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a Japanese multi-institutional cooperative study (JLGK1401)

OBJECTIVE In 1999, the World Health Organization categorized large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung as a variant of large cell carcinoma, and LCNEC now accounts for 3% of all lung cancers. Although LCNEC is categorized among the non-small cell lung cancers, its biological behavior has recently been suggested to be very similar to that of a small cell pulmonary malignancy. The clinical outcome for patients with LCNEC is generally poor, and the optimal treatment for this malignancy has not yet been established. Little information is available regarding management of LCNEC patients with brain metastases (METs). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for patients with brain METs from LCNEC. METHODS The Japanese Leksell Gamma Knife Society planned this retrospective study in which 21 Gamma Knife centers in Japan participated. Data from 101 patients were reviewed for this study. Most of the patients with LCNEC were men (80%), and the mean age was 67 years (range 39-84 years). Primary lung tumors were reported as well controlled in one-third of the patients. More than half of the patients had extracranial METs. Brain metastasis and lung cancer had been detected simultaneously in 25% of the patients. Before GKRS, brain METs had manifested with neurological symptoms in 37 patients. Additionally, prior to GKRS, resection was performed in 17 patients and radiation therapy in 10. A small cell lung carcinoma-based chemotherapy regimen was chosen for 48 patients. The median lesion number was 3 (range 1-33). The median cumulative tumor volume was 3.5 cm³, and the median radiation dose was 20.0 Gy. For statistical analysis, the standard Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine post-GKRS survival. Competing risk analysis was applied to estimate GKRS cumulative incidences of maintenance of neurological function and death, local recurrence, appearance of new lesions, and complications. RESULTS The overall median survival time (MST) was 9.6 months. MSTs for patients classified according to the modified recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) system were 25.7, 11.0, and 5.9 months for Class 1+2a (20 patients), Class 2b (28), and Class 3 (46), respectively. At 12 months after GKRS, neurological death-free and deterioration-free survival rates were 93% and 87%, respectively. Follow-up imaging studies were available in 78 patients. The tumor control rate was 86% at 12 months after GKRS. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that GKRS is an effective treatment for LCNEC patients with brain METs, particularly in terms of maintaining neurological status.

Optimal implantation of Ommaya reservoirs for cystic metastatic brain tumors preceding Gamma Knife radiosurgery

INTRODUCTION

Although Ommaya reservoir implantation is effective in reducing the target volume of cystic brain metastases preceding stereotactic radiosurgery, adequate volume reduction cannot be achieved in some cases, and the factors leading to failure in volume reduction have not been clearly identified. In this study, we investigated the factors leading to failure in volume reduction after use of the Ommaya reservoir.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between December 2007 and February 2015, 38 consecutive patients with 40 cystic metastases underwent Ommaya reservoir implantation at our institution. The patient characteristics, treatment parameters, and all available clinical and neuroimaging follow-ups were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The rate of volume reduction was significantly related to the location of the tube tip inside the cyst. By placing the tip at or near the center, 58.7% reduction was achieved, whereas reduction of 42.6% and 7.7% occurred with deep and shallow tip placement, respectively (p=0.011). Although there was no additional surgery in the center placement group, additional surgeries were performed in 5 out of the 23 deep and shallow cases due to inadequate volume reduction. No other factors were correlated with successful volume reduction.

CONCLUSION

For adequate volume reduction using the Ommaya reservoir in the treatment of cystic brain metastases prior to stereotactic radiosurgery, the tip of the reservoir tube should be placed at the center of the cyst.

Differentiation of Brain Tumor Recurrence from Post-Radiotherapy Necrosis with 11C-Methionine PET: Visual Assessment versus Quantitative Assessment

Purpose

The aim of this multi-center study was to assess the diagnostic capability of visual assessment in L-methyl-¹¹C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) for differentiating a recurrent brain tumor from radiation-induced necrosis after radiotherapy, and to compare it to the accuracy of quantitative analysis.

Methods

A total of 73 brain lesions (glioma: 31, brain metastasis: 42) in 70 patients who underwent MET-PET were included in this study. Visual analysis was performed by comparison of MET uptake in the brain lesion with MET uptake in one of four regions (around the lesion, contralateral frontal lobe, contralateral area, and contralateral cerebellar cortex). The concordance rate and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of visual assessment. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was used to compare visual assessment with quantitative assessment based on the lesion-to-normal (L/N) ratio of MET uptake.

Results

Interobserver and intraobserver κ-values were highest at 0.657 and 0.714, respectively, when assessing MET uptake in the lesion compared to that in the contralateral cerebellar cortex. Logistic regression analysis showed that assessing MET uptake in the contralateral cerebellar cortex with brain metastasis was significantly related to the final result. The highest area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) with visual assessment for brain metastasis was 0.85, showing no statistically significant difference with L/Nmax of the contralateral brain (AUC = 0.89) or with L/Nmean of the contralateral cerebellar cortex (AUC = 0.89), which were the areas that were the highest in the quantitative assessment. For evaluation of gliomas, no specific candidate was confirmed among the four areas used in visual assessment, and no significant difference was seen between visual assessment and quantitative assessment.

Conclusion

The visual assessment showed no significant difference from quantitative assessment of MET-PET with a relevant cut-off value for the differentiation of recurrent brain tumors from radiation-induced necrosis.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial hemangioblastomas: a retrospective international outcome study

OBJECT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the management of intracranial hemangioblastomas.

METHODS

Six participating centers of the North American Gamma Knife Consortium and 13 Japanese Gamma Knife centers identified 186 patients with 517 hemangioblastomas who underwent SRS. Eighty patients had 335 hemangioblastomas associated with von Hippel–Lindau disease (VHL) and 106 patients had 182 sporadic hemangioblastomas. The median target volume was 0.2 cm3 (median diameter 7 mm) in patients with VHL and 0.7 cm3 (median diameter 11 mm) in those with sporadic hemangioblastoma. The median margin dose was 18 Gy in VHL patients and 15 Gy in those with sporadic hemangioblastomas.

RESULTS

At a median of 5 years (range 0.5–18 years) after treatment, 20 patients had died of intracranial disease progression and 9 patients had died of other causes. The overall survival after SRS was 94% at 3 years, 90% at 5 years, and 74% at 10 years. Factors associated with longer survival included younger age, absence of neurological symptoms, fewer tumors, and higher Karnofsky Performance Status. Thirty-three (41%) of the 80 patients with VHL developed new tumors and 17 (16%) of the106 patients with sporadic hemangioblastoma had recurrences of residual tumor from the original tumor. The 5-year rate of developing a new tumor was 43% for VHL patients, and the 5-year rate of developing a recurrence of residual tumor from the original tumor was 24% for sporadic hemangioblastoma patients. Factors associated with a reduced risk of developing a new tumor or recurrences of residual tumor from the original tumor included younger age, fewer tumors, and sporadic rather than VHL-associated hemangioblastomas. The local tumor control rate for treated tumors was 92% at 3 years, 89% at 5 years, and 79% at 10 years. Factors associated with an improved local tumor control rate included VHL-associated hemangioblastoma, solid tumor, smaller tumor volume, and higher margin dose. Thirteen patients (7%) developed adverse radiation effects (ARE) after SRS, and one of these patients died due to ARE.

CONCLUSIONS

When either sporadic or VHL-associated tumors were observed to grow on serial imaging studies, SRS provided tumor control in 79%–92% of tumors.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with multiple brain metastases (JLGK0901): a multi-institutional prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to examine whether stereotactic radiosurgery without whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) as the initial treatment for patients with five to ten brain metastases is non-inferior to that for patients with two to four brain metastases in terms of overall survival.

METHODS

This prospective observational study enrolled patients with one to ten newly diagnosed brain metastases (largest tumour <10 mL in volume and <3 cm in longest diameter; total cumulative volume ≤15 mL) and a Karnofsky performance status score of 70 or higher from 23 facilities in Japan. Standard stereotactic radiosurgery procedures were used in all patients; tumour volumes smaller than 4 mL were irradiated with 22 Gy at the lesion periphery and those that were 4-10 mL with 20 Gy. The primary endpoint was overall survival, for which the non-inferiority margin for the comparison of outcomes in patients with two to four brain metastases with those of patients with five to ten brain metastases was set as the value of the upper 95% CI for a hazard ratio (HR) of 1·30, and all data were analysed by intention to treat. The study was finalised on Dec 31, 2012, for analysis of the primary endpoint; however, monitoring of stereotactic radiosurgery-induced complications and neurocognitive function assessment will continue for the censored subset until the end of 2014. This study is registered with the University Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry, number 000001812.

FINDINGS

We enrolled 1194 eligible patients between March 1, 2009, and Feb 15, 2012. Median overall survival after stereotactic radiosurgery was 13·9 months [95% CI 12·0-15·6] in the 455 patients with one tumour, 10·8 months [9·4-12·4] in the 531 patients with two to four tumours, and 10·8 months [9·1-12·7] in the 208 patients with five to ten tumours. Overall survival did not differ between the patients with two to four tumours and those with five to ten (HR 0·97, 95% CI 0·81-1·18 [less than non-inferiority margin], p=0·78; pnon-inferiority<0·0001). Stereotactic radiosurgery-induced adverse events occurred in 101 (8%) patients; nine (2%) patients with one tumour had one or more grade 3-4 event compared with 13 (2%) patients with two to four tumours and six (3%) patients with five to ten tumours. The proportion of patients who had one or more treatment-related adverse event of any grade did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients with multiple tumours (50 [9%] patients with two to four tumours vs 18 [9%] with five to ten; p=0·89). Four patients died, mainly of complications relating to stereotactic radiosurgery (two with one tumour and one each in the other two groups).

INTERPRETATION

Our results suggest that stereotactic radiosurgery without WBRT in patients with five to ten brain metastases is non-inferior to that in patients with two to four brain metastases. Considering the minimal invasiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery and the fewer side-effects than with WBRT, stereotactic radiosurgery might be a suitable alternative for patients with up to ten brain metastases.

FUNDING

Japan Brain Foundation.

Long-term follow-up results of intentional 2-stage Gamma Knife surgery with an interval of at least 3 years for arteriovenous malformations larger than 10 cm3

Object

Little information is available on staged Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) with an interval of 3 years or more when used to treat arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with volumes larger than 10 cm3. The goal of this study was to increase knowledge in this area by reporting the authors' experience.

Methods

The authors describe an institutional review board–approved retrospective study in which they examined databases including information on 250 patients who consecutively underwent GKS for cerebral AVMs during a 16-year period (1988–2004). Among the 250 patients the authors identified 31 patients (12.4%, 15 female and 16 male patients with a mean age of 29 years [range 10–63 years]) in whom 2-stage GKS was intentionally planned at the time of initial treatment because the volume of the AVM nidus was larger than 10 cm3. The most common presentation was bleeding (14 patients), followed by seizures (9 patients), incidental findings (7 patients), and headache with scintillation (1 patient). One patient underwent GKS for the treatment of 2 AVMs simultaneously, and thus 32 AVMs are included in this study. The mean nidus volume was 16.2 cm3 (maximum 55.8 cm3). In all 31 patients, relatively low radiation doses (12–16 Gy directed at the periphery of the lesion) were intentionally used for the first GKS. The second GKS was scheduled for at least 36 months after the first.

Results

Complete nidus obliteration was obtained after the first GKS in 1 patient. To date, 26 patients have undergone a second procedure with a post-GKS mean interval of 41 months (range 24–83 months); 2 other patients refused to undergo the second GKS, and no further treatment was given because of severe morbidity in 1 case and death due to bleeding in the other case. Among the 26 patients who did undergo a second procedure, 3 patients refused follow-up digital subtraction (DS) angiography, another is scheduled for follow-up DS angiography, and 2 patients died, one of bleeding and the other of an unknown cause. The remaining 20 patients underwent follow-up DS angiography. Complete nidus obliteration was confirmed in 13 patients (65.0%) and remarkable nidus shrinkage in the other 7 patients (35.0%). In 2 of these 7 patients, a third GKS achieved complete nidus obliteration. Therefore, the cumulative complete obliteration rate in this series was 76.2% (16 of 21 eligible patients). Seven patients (22.6%) experienced bleeding. The bleeding rates were 9.7%, 16.1%, 16.1%, and 26.1%, respectively, at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years post-GKS. There were 2 deaths and 3 cases of morbidity (persistent coma, mild hemimotor weakness, and hemianopsia in 1 patient each). Hemorrhage did not produce neurological deficits in the other 2 patients. During the mean post-GKS follow-up period of 105 months (range 42–229 months) to date, mild symptomatic GKS-related complications occurred in 2 patients (6.5%); these were classified as Radiation Oncology Group Neurotoxicity Grade 1 in 1 patient and Grade 2 in the other. Among various pre-GKS clinical factors, univariate analysis showed only patient age to impact complications (hazard ratio 0.675, 95% CI 0.306–0.942, p = 0.0085). The rate of complications in the pediatric cases was 33.3%, whereas that in the adolescent and adult cases was 0% (p = 0.0323).

Conclusions

Although a final conclusion awaits further studies and patient follow-up, these results suggest 2-stage GKS to be beneficial even for relatively large AVMs.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery for hemangiomas of the cavernous sinus: a seven-institute study in Japan

Object

Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) is currently used for primary or postoperative management of cavernous sinus (CS) hemangiomas. The authors describe their experience with 30 cases of CS hemangioma successfully managed with GKS.

Methods

Thirty patients with CS hemangiomas, including 19 female and 11 male patients with a mean age of 53 years (range 19–78 years) underwent GKS at 7 facilities in Japan. Pathological entity was confirmed using surgical specimens in 17 patients, and neuroimaging diagnosis only in 13. Eight patients were asymptomatic before GKS, while 22 had ocular movement disturbances and/or optic nerve impairments. The mean tumor volume was 11.5 cm3 (range 1.5–51.4 cm3). The mean dose to the tumor periphery was 13.8 Gy (range 10.0–17.0 Gy).

Results

The mean follow-up period was 53 months (range 12–138 months). Among the 22 patients with symptoms prior to GKS, complete remission was achieved in 2, improvement in 13, and no change in 7. Hemifacial sensory disturbance developed following GKS in 1 patient. The most recent MR images showed remarkable shrinkage in 18, shrinkage in 11, and no change in 1 patient.

Conclusions

Gamma Knife radiosurgery proved to be an effective treatment strategy for managing CS hemangiomas. Given the diagnostic accuracy of recently developed neuroimaging techniques and the potentially serious bleeding associated with biopsy sampling or attempted surgical removal, the authors recommend that GKS be the primary treatment in most patients who have a clear neuroimaging diagnosis of this condition.

Gamma knife radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations: the Furukawa experience

The Furukawa experience treating 534 patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations using gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is summarized. By repeating radiosurgery for any residual nidus after the first GKRS, the rates of cumulative complete obliteration 7 years after this initial GKRS, according to four volume categories (< or =1, 4 > or = >1, 10 > or = > 4, > 10cm3), were 92, 89, 68 and 43%, respectively. Bleeding after GKRS was observed in 8.1% of the patients and was more frequently seen in patients with a large nidus and history of bleeding two or more times before GKRS. Cyst formation was recognized in 4.7% of patients, two thirds of which required some form of surgical intervention. Refinement of the total GKRS system contributed to earlier and more effective nidus obliteration.

Newly developed endoscopic instruments for the removal of intracerebral hematoma

Ultra-early surgical treatment in which associated brain injury is minimized and maximal volume of hematoma is removed shortly after onset with secure hemostasis is expected to be established. We developed a transparent guiding sheath and other surgical instruments for endoscopic surgery and established a novel, ultra-early stage surgical procedure using those instruments. This procedure has the following characteristics: (a) burr hole opening under local anesthesia is possible; (b) a transparent sheath improves the visualization of the surgical field in the parenchyma and the hematoma; (c) free-hand surgery without fixing an endoscope and a sheath to a frame facilitates three-dimensional operation; (d) secure hemostasis by electric coagulation is possible; (e) relatively simple surgical instruments are easy to prepare. We have performed this procedure in 82 patients with intracerebral or intraventricular hemorrhage (44 with putaminal hemorrhage, 12 with thalamic hemorrhage, 8 with subcortical hemorrhage, 8 with cerebellar hemorrhage, 10 with intraventricular hemorrhage). Twenty-four of those patients received our treatment in the ultra-early stage (within 3 hours after onset). The mean duration of surgery was 63 minutes, the mean hematoma reduction rate was 96%, and no peri-operative hemorrhage with deterioration of symptoms and/or signs occurred. Therefore, we believe that endoscopic hematoma evacuation with our surgical procedure is a promising ultra-early stage treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage and that it may improve the long-term prognosis in patents with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Gamma knife radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas

Although surgical extirpation by transsphenoidal microsurgery is a major remedy for pituitary adenomas, adjuvant therapy also plays an important role in achieving tumor growth control and endocrine normalization in hormone-secreting tumors. Historically, the treatment options for pituitary adenomas included microsurgery, medical management, and fractionated radiotherapy, but radiosurgery has recently emerged as a practical treatment option. In this paper, we will describe the indications, radiosurgical procedure, results, histological change, and complications of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for pituitary adenomas based on our experience since 1991 and a review of the literature.

Rapid development of an intranidal aneurysm with perifocal brain edema in an unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Case report

The authors present the case of a 22-year-old man with an unruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in which an intranidal aneurysm had grown in the course of 3 months and was complicated by perifocal brain edema. A left parietal AVM was incidentally diagnosed on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. No aneurysms were noted on cerebral angiograms obtained simultaneously. Three months later, T2-weighted MR imaging revealed perifocal brain edema (increased signal intensity in the brain parenchyma adjacent to the nidus). An aneurysm-like signal void was demonstrated in the center of the high-signal area, but no previous hemorrhages could be detected. Angiographic studies revealed an intranidal aneurysm 4 mm in diameter projecting anterolaterally from the nidus. Surgical removal was performed without incident, and no neurological deficits or postoperative complications were observed. An MR image obtained 2 weeks postsurgery revealed complete resolution of the perifocal brain edema. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of an unruptured AVM in which an intranidal aneurysm with perifocal brain edema developed rapidly (within a few months).