Are the Radiological and Molecular Features of Pediatric Medulloblastomas Valuable Prognostic Indicators? A 10-year Retrospective Review in the Middle East

BACKGROUND

Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in the pediatric population. Based on the idea that tumors with identical radio-genomic features should behave similarly, the four molecular subtypes are now widely accepted as a guide for the management and prognosis. The radiological features of medulloblastomas can predict the molecular subtype; thus, anticipating the subsequent disease progression. However, this has not been evaluated comprehensively.

PURPOSE

We aim to thoroughly study the association between the molecular subtypes and radiological features of medulloblastomas. Moreover, we aim to investigate the efficacy of this correlation with the use of progression-free survival (PFS) and five-year survival rates.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted for all histopathological confirmed medulloblastomas in pediatric patients (<16 years old) that were operated on in Kuwait over the past ten years (n=44). The radiological, histological, and molecular characteristics were justifiably evaluated and analyzed in our sample.

RESULTS

The overall progression-free survival after one year was noticed among 27 cases (≈44%) and the non-specific five-year survival was seen in 31 cases (≈70%) after a five-year follow-up. SHH and WNT had the best outcomes, while group 3 showed the worst outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Our findings did not support the association between most of the typical MRI characteristics and survival rate. We further established that SHH and WNT biological types have a better prognosis. There was no association observed between the radiographic features, specifically the location, and the molecular subtype.

Does establishing a neurovascular unit improve the outcome after surgical clipping for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage? Results from a 5-year observational study in Kuwait

Background:

Failure to prevent rebleeding after cerebral subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is the most frequent reason for high morbidity and mortality of aneurysmal SAH. Our study aims to identify the outcome after surgical clipping of aneurysmal SAH before and after the establishment of the neurovascular unit. The clarifications of the positive turnover in the outcome will be discussed.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort analysis was carried out on our experience with a controlled group of patients who underwent clipping for ruptured cerebral aneurysms (n = 61) from January 2015 to December 2019. A modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to determine the outcome after 6 months of follow-up.

Results:

The median mRS score (i.e., outcome) on admission was 4, whereas it was with a median score of 2 six months after clipping (P ≤ 0.001). Overall, the cases with a good outcome were 63.9% of the sample, while the poor outcome conditions were 36.1%. The most cases with an improved outcome were after introducing the neurovascular unit, representing a transition of aneurysmal clipping practice in our center. The good outcome was changed from 42% to 76.7%, and the poor outcome was changed from 58% to 23.3% (P = 0.019). The crude mortality rate was similar to the rate worldwide (18%), with a noticeable decrease after organizing a neurovascular subspecialty.

Conclusion:

The outcome after clipping of ruptured SAH can be largely affected by the surgeon’s experience and postoperative intensive care. Organizing a neurovascular team is one of the major factors to achieve good outcomes.