• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.54-56
• /
• 2014

Intracranial tumors secondary to radiotherapy are rare. In this group gliomas are the rarest. Only 6 cases of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have been reported in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for craniopharyngiomas of which only 4 have been in children less than 18 years of age. In recent years RT has become a mainstay of adjuvant therapy for recurrent or partially excised craniopharyngiomas. We report a child of 12 years who had previously undergone RT for a suprasellar craniopharyngioma and presented 10 years later with a GBM. This is the 5th pediatric case in literature demonstrating a GBM after RT for a craniopharyngioma. The implications of subjecting the pediatric population to RT for a benign lesion versus the outcome of gross total removal and management of RT induced tumors is discussed and the need to avail of safer alternatives such as stereotactic radiosurgery is stressed.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 1999

Until recently, the cranial base tumors were deemed unresectable due to the inability to diagnose the extent of the involvement accurately and to approach and excise the tumor safely. With refinements in CT and NMR scanning and development of craniofacial techniques, reconstruction becomes absolutely crucial in allowing successful resection of these tumors. Resection of these tumors may sometimes result in massive and complex extirpation defects that are not amendable to local tissue closure. In such cases, the free tissue transfer was a useful alternative because it can provide large amount of well-vascularized tissues and reliable separation of intracranial space from bacterial flora of the upper airway. The microvascular free tissue transfer was used in 9 patients at our center to reconstruct the cranial base defects. Of these, 8 were free rectus muscle flaps, and 1 was free latissimua dorsi muscle flap. There were 1 case of partial flap loss and 1 case of postoperative wound infection. The large, complex defects were successfully reconstructed by one stage operation and the functional and aesthetic results were satisfactory with acceptable complication rates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3271-3276
• /
• 2016

Background: Intracranial nonvestibular schwannomas arising from various cranial nerves excluding CN VIII are uncommon. Recently, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) have been widely reported as effective treatment modalities for nonvestibular schwannomas. The purpose of this study was to study the long term clinical outcome for nonvestibular schwannomas treated with both X-Knife and CyberKnife (CK) radiosurgery at one institution. Materials and Methods: From 2004 to 2013, fifty-two nonvestibular schwannoma patients were included in this study, 33 patients (63%) were treated with CK, and 19 (37%) were treated with X-Knife. The majority of the tumors were jugular foramen schwannomas (38%) and trigeminal schwannomas (27%). HSRT was given for 45 patients (86%), whereas CSRT was for 6 (12%) and SRS for 1 (2%). Results: The median pretreatment volume was $9.4cm^3$ (range, $0.57-52cm^3$). With the median follow up time of 36 months (range, 3-135), the 3 and 5 year progression free survival was 94 % and 88%, respectively. Tumor size was decreased in 13 (25%), stable in 29 (56%), and increased in 10 (19%). Among the latter, 3 (30%) required additional treatment because of neurologic deterioration. No patient was found to develop any new cranial nerve deficit after SRS/SRT. Conclusions: These data confirmed that SRS/SRT provide high tumor control rates with low complications. Large volume tumors and cystic expansion after radiation should be carefully followed up with neurological examination and MRI, because it may frequently cause neurological deterioration requiring further surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.sup1
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 2001

Objective : Intracranial metastasis is responsible for nearly 50% of mortalities of systemic cancers. Although its frequency is increasing and there is little doubt that improving the quality and expectancy of life is the final goal, the mode of treatment is still disputed. The authors report the postoperative motor function after surgery in patients with metastatic tumors around the motor cortex. Materials and Methods : We studied 24 patients with metastatic tumors around the central sulcus during the last 22 months. Motor function was assessed pre- and post-operatively as well as its response to corticosteroids. MRI, neuronavigation system and intraoperative ultrasonography were used for tumor localization and functional MRI and cortical stimulator were used to define the motor cortex. Results : Single metastasis was found in 13 cases(54%) and 11 cases(44%) had multiple foci. Thirteen cases were located in precentral, 7 in postcentral, and 4 in superior or middle-frontal lobe. The most common primary focus was the lung(16 cases). There was no difference in postoperative motor function improvement between the steroid responsive group and non-responsive group(92% versus 90%). Ninty-two percent of the patients showed significant improvement of motor function and lived independently but there was worsening in the upper extremity in one and in another no improvement. Whole brain radiation of 3000cGy was given in all cases and 4 patients died of recurrence in primary or intracranial focus during mean follow-up periods of 14 monthes. Conclusion : Surgery may provide substantial improvement of the motor function and quality of life of the patients with metastatic tumors around the motor cortex.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.sup2
• /
• pp.228-234
• /
• 2001

Objective : The goal of this study was to identify variables that were predictive of recurrence in primary intracranial ependymomas. Methods : We analyzed variables affecting recurrence in 30 patients with primary intracranial ependymomas. Age, location, CSF cytology, seeding on neuroimaging study, tumor grade, extent of surgery, use of chemotherapy, chemotherapy regimen, use of radiotherapy, and radiotherapy field were entered to test their impacts on recurrence. Results : Follow-up ranged from 2 to 110 months. Tumors were recurred at the primary tumor site only in 13 patients (43.3%). The overall average recurrence free period was 55 months, with overall recurrence free rates at 3 and 6 years of 61.0% and 20.9%, respectively. Extent of surgery was the strongest variable affecting recurrence. The median recurrence free period and 3-year recurrence free rate were 72 months and 78.4% for patients having complete excision and 33 months and 0% for those having incomplete excision(p=0.05). Other prognostic variables like age, location, tumor grade, use of chemotherapy, and use of radiotherapy did not affect recurrence(p=0.2848, 0.7899, 0.1714, 0.2157, 0.7076, respectively). Conclusions : Intracranial ependymomas have a propensity to recur after treatment, and recurrence at the primary site is still the main obstacle to cure. Among various variables, only extent of resection had the strongest impact on recurrence. Additional studies may still be needed to precisely define the prognostic variables on recurrence in intracranial ependymomas.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.109-113
• /
• 2006

Objective : Meningioma is a benign tumor which has a high occurrence rate of postoperative hematomas. The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors for postoperative hemorrhages after meningioma surgery. Methods : One hundred and fifty three patients with intracranial meningiomas, operated at the Department of Neurosurgery, National Medical Center, between January 1995 and December 2003 were included in this retrospective study. Risk factors considered to be related with postoperative hematomas were age, sex, preoperative pharmacological anticoagulants for medical co-morbidity, tumor location, histological type of the meningioma, infiltration of dural sinus and arachnoid, removal range of tumors, and the perioperative coagulation status including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and platelet count. Results : Patients' aged more than 70 years with a platelet count of less than $150{\times}10^9{\ell}^{-1}$ after surgery had statistically significant relations to the occurrence rate of postoperative hematomas. The other factors had no statistical significance. Conclusion : Various and intensive preoperative examinations for coagulation factors of patients, especially of older age, and proper transfusion before meningioma surgery are necessary for preventing postoperative hematoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.1144-1149
• /
• 2001

Schwannomas of the jugular foramen, originating from the glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus and accessory nerve represent approximately 0.17-0.72% of all intracranial tumor, and consists of 1.4-2.9% of all intracranial schwannomas. The clinical presentation of these tumors varies significantly according to originated nerve and it's growth pattern. Magnetic resonance(MR) image and temporal bone computed tomography(CT) scan have a major role for diagnosis of such tumor. The treatment of choice is total resection whenever possible. Generally, suboccipital approach is sufficient for the removal of the tumor, but in case with large size, combination of resection of petrous part of temporal bone with or without transection of sigmoid sinus is may be necessory. We have recently experienced one case of giant jugular foramen schwannoma and postoperative fatal complication in a 34-year-old male who was treated with combined posterior petrous and suboccipital approach with transection of sigmoid sinus

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 1968

Technetium 99m pertechnetate brain scanning were performed in 3 cases of head injury (2 chronic subdural hematomas and 1 acute epidural hematoma), 2 cases of brain abscess and I case of intracerebral hematoma associated with arteriovenous anomaly. In all the cases brain scintigrams showed "hot areas." Literatures on radioisotope scanning of intracranial lesions were briefly reviewed. With the improvement of radioisotope scanner and development of new radiopharmaceuticals brain scanning became a safe and useful screening test for diagnosis of intracranial lesions. Brain scanning can be easily performed even to a moribund patient without any discomfort and risk to the patient which are associated with cerebral angiography or pneumoencephalography. Brain scanning has been useful in diagnosis of brain tumor, brain abscess, subdural hematoma, and cerebral vascular diseases. In 80 to 90% of brain tumors positive scintigrams can be expected. Early studies were done with $^{203}Hg$-Neohydrin or $^{131}I$-serum albumin. With these agents, however, patients receive rather much radiation to the whole body and kidneys. In 1965 Harper introduced $^{99m}Tc$ to reduce radiation dose to the patient and improve statistical variation in isotope scanning.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.3030-3034
• /
• 2014

Bis-chloroethylnitrosourea (BCNU) is currently used as an anti-cancer drug for glioblastoma therapy. In this study, BCNU was loaded into the hydrophobic cores of R3V6 amphiphilic peptide micelles for efficient delivery into brain tumors. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) study showed that the BCNU-loaded R3V6 peptide micelles (R3V6-BCNU) formed spherical micelles. MTT assay showed that R3V6-BCNU more efficiently induced cell death in C6 glioblastoma cells than did BCNU. In the Annexin V assay, R3V6-BCNU more efficiently induced apoptosis than did BCNU alone. Furthermore, the results showed that R3V6 was not toxic to cells. The positive charges of the R3V6 peptide micelles may facilitate the interaction between R3V6-BCNU and the cellular membrane, resulting in an increase in cellular uptake of BCNU. In vivo evaluation with an intracranial glioblastoma rat model showed that R3V6-BCNU more effectively reduced tumor size than BCNU alone. The results suggest that R3V6 peptide micelles may be an efficient carrier of BCNU for glioblastoma therapy.

• Brain Tumor Research and Treatment
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.73-77
• /
• 2018

Germinoma is the most common type of intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs). Pineal gland and suprasellar region are the most frequent sites of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Intracranial masses caused by Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) mimics features of CNS GCTs. LCH frequently involve spine and is the most common cause of vertebra plana in children. A 15-year-old boy presented with progressing symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, general headache, nausea and severe back pain. Brain MRI showed brain tumor with simultaneous involvement of suprasellar region and pineal gland. An excisional biopsy of suprasellar mass was done. The pathologic assessment confirmed the diagnosis of germinoma. Patient's treatment continued accordingly. A spine MRI, done due to persistent backache, showed a vertebra plana. We reevaluated the primary diagnosis suspecting LCH. Germinoma of CNS was confirmed and a biopsy of vertebral lesion resulted in hemangioma. Thus we report a case of CNS germinoma with co-occurrence of vertebra plana. We emphasized the importance of histopathologic diagnosis of pineal/suprasellar masses and primary investigation of other CNS regions including spine for possible metastasis or comorbidities.