Glial Tumors

Glial tumors are primary brain and spinal cord tumors arising from supporting cells of the central nervous system, including oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, and ependymal cells. Collectively, glial tumors are the most common category of primary brain tumors. They may be infiltrative or well circumscribed. Prognosis ranges from surgical cure to survival of less than 2 years, depending on tumor type. Age is the strongest risk factor for glioma in adults, with incidence rates increasing from a low of 3.2 per 100,000 person-years among persons age 20 to 34 years to a high of 19.3 per 100,000 person-years among those age 75 to 84 years.

Recurrent cervical stitch sinus arising from the deep neck space after thyroidectomy: case study and review

Objective: We describe a one-stage surgical technique for the management of recurrent cervical stitch sinus after thyroidectomy. Method: A retrospective, single-centre study of all patients who were operated on because of cervical neck sinus after thyroidectomy. We provide a detailed description of our surgical approach, based on guided sinus removal after prior tract staining with methylene blue and subsequent obliteration using local strap muscle flap. Results: A total of seven patients with a mean age of 46 years were included in the study. All patients had a past history of thyroidectomy because of goitre (n=5) or thyroid cancer (n=2) which had previously been unsuccessfully debrided two or three times. Surgical sinus removal was successful in all cases and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up time. Conclusions: We conclude that a comprehensive en bloc resection down to the suture granuloma is essential in order to provide surgical cure and prevent recurrence.

Solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasia of the pancreas causing sinistral portal hypertension: a case report

Solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN), also referred as Franz’s tumour or Hamoudi’s tumour is a low malignant potential epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas. It occurs at a much lower frequency than other cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. It occurs rarely and in young females. Although infrequently, large sized tumours are known to compress the splenic vein thereby resulting in extra hepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) resulting in left sided portal hypertension (PHT). The resulting periportal collateral circulation poses an intraoperative challenge while approaching these tumors. Meticulous pre-operative planning can go a long way in managing such a case and providing complete surgical cure. We present a case of SPEN in a 37 years old female which was discovered incidentally and managed surgically to achieve a complete cure to both the tumour and the left sided PHT.

690 Intracranial Hypotension Due to CSF Leak Secondary to Ventral Thoracic Osteophyte Complex: Resolution After Transdural Thoracic Discectomy and Dural Repair

The hallmark symptom of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is orthostatic headaches which manifests secondary to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypovolaemia. Well-recognised aetiologies include trauma which includes procedures such as lumbar punctures and spinal surgery. More recently, structural defects such as bony osteophytes and calcified or herniated discs have been attributed to mechanically compromising dural integrity consequently resulting in CSF leak and symptom manifestation. A thorough literature review noted only a handful of such cases. We report the case of a thirty-two-year-old Asian female who presented with a one-month history of new-onset progressively worsening orthostatic headaches. Workup included MRI of the thoracic spine which revealed an epidural collection of CSF consequently prompting a dynamic CT-myelogram of the spine which not only helped to confirm severe cerebral hypotension but also suggested the underlying cause as being a dorsally projecting osteophyte-complex at level T2-3. Conservative and medical management including bed rest, analgesia, mechanical compression, and epidural blood patches failed to alleviate symptoms and a permanent surgical cure was eventually sought. The surgery involved T2-T3 laminectomy and osteophytectomy and at a 3-month follow-up, complete resolution of symptoms was noted.

Resolution of Abnormal Gonadotropin Secretion After Surgical Cure in Men With ACTH-Dependent Cushing Syndrome

Background: Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) dysfunction is known to occur in male patients with Cushing Syndrome (CS) but the underlying mechanisms of HPG dysfunction remain unclear. We performed frequent blood sampling and GnRH stimulation tests to assess gonadotropin secretion in males before and after surgical cure of CS. Methods: We evaluated eight males age 32.5±12 years (mean ± SD) enrolled for surgical cure of ACTH-dependent CS at a tertiary care research center. Urinary free cortisol (UFC) was measured before and after surgery. Blood was sampled every 20 minutes for 24-hours with measurement of LH and FSH, before and 2 weeks to 160 weeks (median 80 weeks) after surgery. Patients received 100 μg of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) iv with measurement of LH and FSH at 0, 10 and 20 min before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 120 and 180 min after administration. Non-normative data was log-transformed before analysis using paired two-tail t-tests. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Gonadotropin values are expressed in U/L as equivalents of the 2nd International Preparation of human menopausal gonadotropins with normal adult male ranges of 6-26 and 5-25 IU/L for LH and FSH, respectively. Results: Mean UFC was elevated ~ 6 times above the upper normal limit before surgery and returned to the reference range after surgery. 24-hour LH rose from 7.82 ± 1.48 preoperatively to 13.07 ± 2.96 IU/L (mean ± sem) after surgery (p=0.026) while mean FSH was unchanged (8.48 ± 1.51 vs 6.92 ± 1.29, p=0.37). LH pulse frequency, a marker of pulsatile GnRH secretion, recovered from a subnormal value of 6.88 ± 0.55 pulses/24 hr before to 12.13 ± 0.72 pulses/24 hr after surgery (p<0.0001) while LH pulse amplitude did not change (6.47 ± 1.21 vs 4.76 ± 0.88 IU/L, p=0.21). In response to GnRH there was a robust increase in LH that was not affected by curative surgery for CS (27.0 ± 7.2 vs 21.2 ± 7.6 IU/L; p=0.14) as was also the case for FSH (3.7 ± 1.2 vs 2.3 ± 0.5 IU/L; p=0.48), consistent with the absence of an effect of CS on gonadotroph responsiveness to LHRH. Conclusion: In men with Cushing Syndrome, hypogonadism is associated with inhibition of endogenous GnRH secretion but preservation of the pituitary response to GnRH. Hypothalamic suppression of the HPG axis is reversible after cure of CS.

Cure and Hormonal Control After Prolactinoma Resection: Case Series and Systematic Review

Object While transsphenoidal surgical resection (TSSR) is important second-line therapy in prolactinoma patients, predictors of surgical cure and biochemical remission following TSSR remain sparse. Methods A retrospective review of prolactinoma patients undergoing TSSR at the USC Pituitary Center from 1995-2020 was conducted. Subjects were categorized as surgical cure (normalization of serum prolactin without medical treatment), surgical non-cure, biochemical control (prolactin normalization with or without adjuvant therapy), and non-biochemical control. A systematic review of the outcomes of surgically-managed prolactinomas was performed. Results The 40 females and 16 males had an average age of 35.6 years. Prior treatment included transsphenoidal resection (6, 11%) and DA treatment (47, 84%). The 40 macroadenomas and 15 microadenomas exhibited suprasellar extension (24, 43%) and parasellar invasion (20, 36%). Fifteen (27%) were purely intrasellar. Gross total resection was achieved in 25 patients (45%) and subtotal in 26 (46%). Surgical cure was achieved in 25 patients (46%) and biochemical control in 35 (64%). Surgical cure was more likely in smaller, noninvasive tumors, those that were fully resected, and patients with lower pre- (<1000ng/mL) and immediately postoperative (<7.6ng/mL) prolactin levels. Ten of 26 patients (38%) undergoing adjuvant therapy achieved biochemical control, which was less likely in males and those with higher preoperative prolactin or invasive tumors. Conclusion Surgical resection of prolactinomas is a safe procedure that, when offered judiciously, can achieve symptom and/or biochemical control in a majority of patients. A variety of predictors may be useful in advising patients on likelihood of postoperative remission.

A Case of Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia: Finding the Culprit Acetabular Tumor and Successful Resection with a Novel Hip Joint-Preserving Surgery

Introduction: Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic disorder caused by tumors that produce fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) resulting in phosphate wasting and inadequate bone mineralization. Complete resection of the tumor can be curative. However, these tumors are typically difficult to find anatomically due to small size and location. Case Report: We present the case of a patient who presented for evaluation of recurrent fractures and hypophosphatemia in the setting of elevated FGF23 suggestive of TIO. 68Gallium-DOTATATE revealed multiple somatostatin avid lesions in several ribs, left acetabulum, sacrum, right tibia, and feet, some of which appeared with fracture on computed tomography scan, initially concerning for metastatic disease. However, the lesion in acetabulum was considered the culprit tumor given its remarkably higher maximum standard uptake values. Complete surgical removal of the FGF23-secreting tumor led to cure of this disease. Conclusion: This case report highlights the challenges with functional imaging differentiating fractures from the culprit lesion and reports on a novel surgical technique that allowed for surgical cure while preserving the hip joint. Keywords: Hypophosphatemia, osteomalacia, tumor, functional imaging, surgical technique.

LAPAROSCOPIC REPAIR OF MORGAGNI HERNIA – A PROSPECTIVE SINGLECENTER EXPERIENCE

Morgagni hernia occurs after a congenital retrosternal diaphragmatic defect; it is a rare form of diaphragmatic hernia (1-3% of cases). In general, this pathology is diagnosed in children; in adults it is frequently discovered in emergency or incidentally. Methods: We prospectively evaluated a series of 6 patients admitted to department of surgery IGIMS. Results: Out of 6 patients the laparoscopic approach was used in all cases: one conversion was recorded due to the tight adherences of the herniated viscera (gastric, colon, epiplon). In 4 cases, the surgical cure of hernia was performed by suture and in 2 cases with prosthesis: dual mesh in one case and polypropylene mesh in another case. We did not register morbidity and the mean postoperative stay was 4 days (range 2-6 days). Conclusions: Hernia Morgagni betrays a rare pathology. The most common is asymptomatic but in complicated cases it is a cause of acute surgical abdomen. Surgical treatment is indicated even for asymptomatic cases due to serious complications Morgagni hernia may develop. The laparoscopic approach is ideal, as reduction of viscera in the abdomen is easy and the defect will be repaired by suturing or using a prosthesis, depending on its size.