脊髓髓内星形细胞瘤诊断与手术治疗

目的探讨脊髓髓内星形细胞瘤的诊断、手术方法,并评价其预后。方法回顾性分析32例髓内星形细胞瘤的临床资料,临床表现为肢体疼痛及神经功能障碍。均采用显微手术治疗。结果低级别星形细胞瘤21例,其中全切除13例,次全切除8例;恶性星形细胞瘤11例,其中次全切除4例,部分切除7例。11例恶性星形细胞瘤病人术后均接受放疗。术后随访12~48个月,平均36.9个月。低级别星形细胞瘤中,神经功能改善15例,无变化5例,加重1例;恶性星形细胞瘤中,神经功能改善5例,无变化4例,死亡2例。结论低级别的星形细胞瘤大多能达全切除,恶性星形细胞瘤因界限不清,仅能部分或大部分切除。星形细胞瘤的病理分级、术前神经功能状态、切除程度与病人预后相关。恶性星形细胞瘤应予术后放疗。     

脊髓恶性星形细胞瘤

脊髓恶性星形细胞瘤罕见,仅占全部脊髓内神经胶质瘤的7.5%.作者1981.7～1987.8为170例患者施行了脊髓髓内星形细胞瘤切除术,病检发现其中19例(11%)为恶性星形细胞瘤(KernohanⅢ级和Ⅳ级),男10例,女9例,年龄1～32岁,平均14岁.肿瘤位于颈髓12例,中胸段2例,园锥5例.症状和体征有疼痛,麻木感觉异常,肿瘤水平以下     

延颈髓内巨大髓内肿瘤二例报告并文献复习

髓内肿瘤比较少见,在神经系统肿瘤中大约占4%～10%;在髓内肿瘤中室管膜瘤和星形细胞瘤比较常见,占所有髓内肿瘤的70%[1].我院在2007年6月至7月手术切除1例延髓至颈胸段长节段髓内室管膜瘤和1例胶质母细胞瘤,现报告如下.     

颈髓髓内肿瘤的显微外科治疗

目的 探讨颈髓髓内肿瘤的临床特征、手术时机和手术技巧。方法 回顾性分析21例颈髓髓内肿瘤的病理类型、临床表现、手术切除程度及临床疗效。结果肿瘤镜下全切除14例（室管膜瘤8例、星形细胞瘤3例、血管母细胞瘤3例）,次全切除5例（室管膜瘤2例、星形细胞瘤3例）,部分切除或活检2例（均为星彤细胞瘤）。1例死于术后呼吸功能障碍。术后随访3个月-5年,平均25个月,神经系统症状好转13例,无改善3例,加重1例,失访3例。结论 绝大多数颈髓髓内肿瘤可通过显微外科手术切除,对恶性肿瘤及未全切除的肿瘤应辅以放射治疗。     

磁共振弥散张量成像在运动功能区星形胶质细胞瘤手术中的运用

目的 探讨磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)在运动区脑星形胶质细胞瘤恶性程度预测及手术方案制定的临床应用价值.方法 33例运动功能区星形细胞瘤患者,术前进行DTI检查,测量表观弥散系数(ADC值)及各向异性分数(FA值)并重建i维白质纤维束示踪图(DTT图).结果 不同级别星形细胞瘤的肿瘤实质区ADC值及瘤周水肿区FA值存在差异;DTT图可以清楚显示运动区锥体束形态变化及与肿瘤之间的关系,在此基础上指导手术,效果满意.结论 DTI中ADC、FA值可以区别肿瘤组织与正常神经组织,有助于星形细胞瘤分级;DTT图可以优化运动功能区星形细胞瘤切除的手术方案,可最大范围切除肿瘤并有效保护重要白质纤维束.     

脊髓髓内星形细胞瘤的显微外科治疗

目的总结脊髓髓内星形细胞瘤的手术经验。方法回顾性分析59例脊髓髓内星形细胞瘤的临床资料,包括影像特征、手术技术、术中电生理监护、病理类型、术后并发症、疗效预后等。均行显微手术,术后辅以放疗。采用McCormick分级和MRI影像评估手术疗效。结果肿瘤全切除8例,近全切除26例,部分切除14例,活检11例。随访3个月~2年,术后近期临床神经功能改善32例,无变化23例,加重4例。肿瘤复发13例,其中胶质母细胞瘤11例,间变型星形细胞瘤2例。结论有明确边界的低级别星形细胞瘤首选显微手术治疗,尽可能全切除肿瘤;为保留脊髓功能,对边界不清的高度恶性胶质瘤可行部分切除或活检,以明确诊断和减压为原则。     

显微手术治疗脊髓髓内肿瘤

目的探讨显微手术治疗脊髓髓内肿瘤的效果。方法我科2002年至2006年采用显微手术治疗脊髓髓内肿瘤15例,其中室管膜瘤8例,星形细胞瘤5例,海绵状血管瘤2例。结果肿瘤全切除11例,大部分切除4例(均为星形细胞瘤)。出院时10例症状有不同程度改善,4例无变化,1例术后加重,无手术死亡病例。结论把握适当的手术时机,结合术前影像学检查结果,术中在显微镜下仔细分辨肿瘤与脊髓的分界面,这些都将有助于提高显微手术治疗脊髓髓内肿瘤的临床疗效。     

下丘脑胶质瘤的临床诊疗分析

目的 探讨下丘脑胶质瘤(HG)的临床表现和影像学特点,评估手术疗效和预后.方法 回顾分析南方医院神经外科收治的36例HG患者的临床资料,并行长期随访.结果 囊实性HG多见于毛细胞型星形细胞瘤;钙化多见于星形或少突星形细胞瘤.术后早期内分泌均有不同程度下降,多轴激素缺乏和尿崩发生率,在全切除组和次全切除+部分切除组间差异无统计学意义(P =0.409和0.324).随访期7例肿瘤复发,全切除组3例均为高级别肿瘤,低于次全切除+部分切除组(P =0.022).两组生活质量差异无统计学意义(P =0.421).结论 明确HG临床和影像学特点,有助于术前诊断.手术仍为首选,全切除能降低肿瘤复发率,且未加重术后尿崩和内分泌水平改变.对下丘脑界面不清的病例,以充分减压为基础的次全切除,在减少围术期病死率的同时,能获得较好的临床效果.     

高颈段椎管内肿瘤的显微外科治疗

目的分析高位颈段椎管内肿瘤病例特点，探讨其手术方法和疗效。方法22例高位颈段椎管内肿瘤中，位于髓内者5例．位于髓外硬脊膜下者17例，其中有11例呈哑铃形生长。全部患者均行显微神经外科手术治疗，对于颈髓受压较严重者手术后采用大剂量甲基强的松龙治疗。结果本组5例髓内肿瘤中，3例室管膜瘤全切除，1例星形细胞瘤行部分切除，另1例星形细胞瘤行椎板内减压后活检。17例髓外硬脊膜下肿瘤中，有15例均在显微镜下全切除，有2例行大部切除；其中呈哑铃形生长的11例肿瘤中．有9例获得显微镜下全切除。结论术前MRI对高颈段椎管肿瘤有较好的诊断价值，而显微神经外科手术则有助于此类肿瘤的全切除。     

脊髓髓内肿瘤的显微外科治疗

目的 总结脊髓髓内肿瘤的治疗经验.方法 回顾性分析36例经显微手术治疗的脊髓髓内肿瘤病人的临床资料,术中超声辅助定位5例.结果 室管膜瘤17例,低级别星形细胞瘤(WHO I ～II级)8例,高级别星形细胞瘤(WHO Ⅲ～Ⅳ级)3例,血管母细胞瘤3例,海绵状血管瘤2例,脂肪瘤、转移瘤、畸胎瘤各1例.室管膜瘤全切率82.4%,低级别星形细胞瘤为50.0%,高级别星形细胞瘤为33.3%,血管母细胞瘤、海绵状血管瘤和转移瘤均全切,脂肪瘤和畸胎瘤次全切.术后随访3个月,根据McCormick脊髓功能状态分级:I级23例,II级7例,Ⅲ级3例,Ⅳ级3例.结论 显微手术切除脊髓髓内肿瘤是目前最有效的治疗措施.术中超声有助于术中肿瘤定位,减少手术创伤.     

Microsurgical treatment and functional outcomes of multi-segment intramedullary spinal cord tumors

We aimed to prospectively analyze correlations between clinical features and histological classification of multi-segment intramedullary spinal cord tumors (MSICTs), and the extent of microsurgical resection and functional outcomes. Fifty-six patients with MSICTs underwent microsurgery for tumor removal using a posterior approach. The tumor was exposed through a dorsal myelotomy. Pre-operative and post-operative nervous function was scored using the Improved Japanese Orthopaedic Association (IJOA) grading system. Correlation analyses were performed between functional outcome (IJOA score) and histological features, age, tumor location, and the longitudinal extent of spinal cord involvement. The most frequently involved levels were the medullo cervical and the cervicothoracic regions (51.8%, 29/56) followed by the conus terminalis (26.8%, 15/56) and the thoracic region (14.3%, 8/56). Ependymoma was the most frequent MSICT type, seen in 22 of 56 patients (39%), followed by low grade astrocytoma (17 patients, 30%) and glioblastoma multiforme (3 patients, 5%). Gross total tumor removal was achieved in 33 cases (58%), subtotal resection in 4 (7%), and partial resection in 16 (28%). The histological classification of the tumor was the most important factor influencing the extent of surgical removal (χ² = 22.17, p = 0.00). The overall difference between pre-operative and post-operative neurological state was not significant (χ² = 5.44, p = 0.61). Thus, MSICTs were most commonly seen in the medullo cervical and cervicothoracic regions, with ependymoma and low grade astrocytoma the most common tumour types. We stress the importance of early microsurgical treatment for MSICTs while the patients do not have severe dysfunction.     

Low-grade supratentorial astrocytomas in adults: Management, immunohistochemical analysis and long-term follow-up

A retrospective review of supratentorial, low-grade astrocytomas in adults over a 10-year period (1983-1993) was performed. All 62 patients had computed tomography and surgery with histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the tumour. Radiotherapy was administered to all patients, regardless of the extent of surgical resection. Multivariate analysis showed that age of the patient at the time of surgery (P=0.008) and female sex (P=0.031) were the most important indicators of improved survival. No significant survival advantage was found with any particular symptom or symptom duration. Neither presence of a tumour cyst nor site of the tumour affected survival. Histological grading (St Anne-Mayo system) found 61 grade II astrocytomas (98%) and one grade I tumour. Six tumours (10%) were protoplasmic astrocytomas and 56 cases (90%) were diffuse fibrillary astrocytomas. Proliferation index derived from Ki-67 antibody staining and the presence of p53 protein expression were not significantly correlated with survival. Most patients underwent biopsy (79%) with 8% undergoing subtotal and 13% total resection. Increased extent of surgical removal showed a trend towards an improved survival (P=0.05). No survival advantage was found with increasing radiotherapy dose. Median survival in the study population was 5.1 years, with survival rates of 70% at 2 years and 53% at 5 years. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 10.5 years. Younger age, female sex and the extent of surgical resection are important prognostic factors in the management of low-grade astrocytomas, whereas the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy needs further evaluation. The prognostic significance of Ki-67 and p53 expression in low-grade astrocytomas remains to be determined.     

MIB-1 labeling index in astrocytic tumors--a clinicopathologic study

BACKGROUND: Although neuroimage and surgical techniques have improved substantially, the prognosis of patients with astrocytic tumors remains unchanged. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proliferative activity in astrocytic tumors in different grades of malignancy and correlate it to other clinical features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From archival paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of 40 patients of the Ribeir?o Preto Medical School with World Health Organization grade II (n = 10), grade III (n = 5) and grade IV astrocytomas (n = 25), the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) was determined using at least a half of the blocks per case. The results were correlated to the biological behavior of the tumors. The aims of this study were to determine the level of MIB-1 LI values (cut-off) that reflect differences in biological behavior of these tumors, the impact on survival of clinical features such as age, tumor location or extension of surgical removal as well as the adjuvant therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As expected, a wide range of MIB-1 LI values was disclosed (mean of 2.35% in grade II astrocytomas to 12.28% in glioblastomas). A close relationship was found between MIB-1 LI and survival of patients with astrocytomas according to the histological grade. All but 1 recurrent tumor presented higher MIB-1 LI in the second biopsy, and the mean MIB-1 LI of the patients who died in the immediate postoperative period (n = 7) was higher in comparison to the MIB-1 LI of the respective grade. Postoperative radiation therapy was an important factor that affected the survival of patients with high-grade astrocytomas (p = 0.006). MIB-1 LI cut-off of 3% divided the astrocytomas in 2 groups with significantly different survival (p < 0.001): median survival time of 12 months (low-grade) versus 45 months (high-grade). On the other hand, univariate analysis did not show any correlation between survival and extension of surgical resection (radical versus partial), tumor's location or patient's age at surgery.     

Tumours around the foramen of Monro: clinical and neuroimaging features and their differential diagnosis.

The clinical and neuroimaging features of 20 patients with lateral ventricular tumours located around the foramen of Monro were reviewed retrospectively with special emphasis on the differential diagnoses. Histologic types were: eight neurocytomas, four subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SGCAs), three subependymomas, two fibrillary astrocytomas, and one each of pilocytic astrocytoma, malignant astrocytoma and malignant teratoma. The mean age of the patients with neurocytoma was 29.6 years, with SGCA 13.3 years and with subependymoma 55.3 years. All tumours appeared nodular in shape, and on computed tomography (CT) neurocytomas were either isodense or highdense with the brain, while all subependymomas and SGCAs were lowdense. Calcification was observed in two SGCAs, and one neurocytoma. Five neurocytomas and all four SGCAs showed mild to moderate contrast enhancement, while all three subependymomas showed either no, or scarce, enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were available in 10 patients, with the signal characteristics of four neurocytomas and three SGCAs being nonspecific, while two subependymomas were both hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Thus important features for differential diagnosis included age of the patient and density on precontrast CT. In this series, either an extensive excision of the tumour or a partial removal, thus relieving the obstruction of the foramina of Monro, usually provided long term survival, with 18 patients surviving a mean of 10.8 years.     

Tumour vascularity is of prognostic significance in adult, but not paediatric astrocytomas

Astrocytomas are the commonest type of brain tumours in adults and children. Although the most reliable prognostic indicators have been shown consistently to be patient age and tumour histological grade, biological progression in these tumours is inevitable and the overall prognosis has remained poor. Due to the evidence that vascular changes are important histological features of astrocytomas, the aim of this study was to investigate prognostic significance of tumour vascularity in paediatric and adult astrocytomas. Study population consisted of 70 patients (45 adult and 25 children) with histologically proven diagnosis of astrocytoma with no history of previous therapy. Histological quantification of tumour vascularity was performed using three different methods: microvessel density, vascular grading and Chalkley counting. Histological classification and grading were also assessed using the World Health Organization system. In contrast to the results in paediatric astrocytomas, tumour vascularity in adult tumours correlated significantly with postoperative survival by univariate analysis (P < 0.05). Microvessel density appeared to be an independent indicator of prognosis by multivariate analysis (P = 0.001). Likewise, patients with microvessel density of 70 or greater had significantly shorter survival than the remaining group (P < 0.001). Patient age and tumour histological grade were also correlated with survival. We conclude that histological quantification of tumour vascularity is a significant prognosticator in adult astrocytomas, but not in children. Our data do not support the validity of applications of antiangiogenic agents in paediatric astrocytic tumours, particularly pilocytic astrocytomas.     

Ten years’ experience in the management of spinal intramedullary tumors in a single institution

We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 195 patients with intramedullary tumors who underwent surgery between January 2001 and December 2010 at a single institution. The symptomatology, neurological and neuroradiological findings, operative details, perioperative and postoperative complications, histopathological data and follow-up examinations of the 137 (70.2%) males and 58 (29.7%) females were studied and analyzed. Epidermoid was the most common intramedullary tumour in children (23%), whereas in adults, ependymomas were more common (46%). Ependymomas were more amenable to resection (total excision in 57.7% and near-total excision in 39.4%) as compared to astrocytomas (total excision in 29%; near total excision in 60.5%). At the final clinical follow-up, 24 patients (16.4%) had improved in McCormick grade, 112 patients (76.7%) remained unchanged and 11 patients (7.5%) had worsened. Complete removal of the lesion is the primary goal of surgery. We conclude that the strongest predictor of functional outcome was the preoperative neurological condition, beyond the histological differentiation of the intramedullary tumor.     

Early prognostic factors related to progression and malignant transformation of low-grade gliomas

Objective

Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are infiltrative tumors characterized by slow growth. However, during early period, LGGs can progress and transform into a malignant pathology. We analyzed the prognostic factors for progression and malignant transformation in LGGs.

Materials and methods

From 2000 to 2009, we operated on 86 patients: 42 oligodendrogliomas, 12 oligoastrocytomas, and 32 astrocytomas. The male:female ratio was 47:39, and the median age was 41 (±17.4) years. The mean follow-up period was 4.25 (±2.8) years. We analyzed the prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and malignant transformation, considering age, sex, KPS, clinical presentation, tumor location, radiologic pattern, extent of removal, pathologic subtype, and adjuvant treatment.

Results

In univariate analysis, non-eloquent location, gross total removal, and oligodendroglial pathology statistically correlated with improved PFS and OS. In multivariate analysis, gross total removal correlated with longer PFS (p = 0.043), and gemistocytic astrocytoma had a poor PFS (p = 0.004). Younger age and non-eloquent area showed an improved OS (p = 0.002 and 0.041), and astrocytic pathology showed a poor OS (p = 0.01). Malignant transformation was pathologically diagnosed in 13 out of 86 patients (15%). Gemistocytic astrocytoma correlated independently with malignant transformation (p = 0.022).

Conclusion

In LGGs, extent of removal associated with tumor progression. The pathology of astrocytoma, especially gemistocytic astrocytoma, was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence and malignant transformation.     

Intramedullary astrocytomas and ependymonas in the pediatric age group: a retrospective study

A series of 45 pediatric patients underwent surgery for intramedullary astrocytoma or ependymoma at the Cook County Hospital or the Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago (Northwestern University) and the Neurosurgical Department of Rome La Sapienza University. Results showed that intramedullary astrocytomas and ependymomas in children differ from one another in terms of prognosis, and particularly as regards surgical strategy as an element of therapeutic management. Gross total removal of 70% of the ependymonas was achieved, in comparison to 33% of the astrocytomas. In astrocytomas the extent of resection did not significantly influence prognosis. Neurological condition on admission, regardless of oncotype, was found to be extremely influential: patients operated in good condition tended to remain neurologically stable or improve in the long term, while those operated on while in poor condition did not show any improvement at all. No definitive conclusions were possible regarding the value of radiotherapy, because it was only performed in 6 of the 45 cases. The authors limited its use to highly malignant lesions in view of the well-known sensitivity of the spinal cord to radiation, especially in children.