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This article from the Journal of Neurological Surgery. Part B. Skull Base discusses the surgical techniques and outcomes of treating lower cranial nerve tumors, specifically schwannomas. The study included nine cases over a four-year period, with varying degrees of tumor resection success. The authors emphasize the challenges of total resection due to the anatomical location and nature of the tumors, highlighting the need for further research and long-term follow-up to assess treatment outcomes. [Extracted from the article] more...

The article discusses the utility and safety of preoperative feeding arteries embolization and tumor embolization for skull base meningiomas. It highlights the effectiveness of these procedures in reducing blood loss and softening the tumor, thus shortening operative time. The study involved eight patients who underwent preoperative embolization using assisted balloon catheters and n-Butyl cyanoacrylates (NBCA) with coils. The main complications observed were headaches and cavernous sinus syndrome, which improved with steroid use and time. The findings suggest that preoperative embolization can be useful in facilitating surgical manipulation for skull base meningiomas. [Extracted from the article] more...

This article discusses a rare case of accessory nerve schwannoma that was initially misdiagnosed as hypoglossal nerve schwannoma. The patient presented with symptoms such as dysphagia, hoarse voice, and tongue atrophy, leading to the discovery of the tumor. Surgical intervention was required to remove the tumor, which improved the patient's condition postoperatively. The case highlights the importance of thorough imaging examinations and considering the possibility of differentiating between jugular foramen schwannoma and hypoglossal schwannoma based on initial symptoms. [Extracted from the article] more...

Metastatic spinal tumors are increasingly prevalent due to advancements in cancer treatment, leading to prolonged survival rates. This rising prevalence highlights the need for developing more effective therapeutic approaches to address this malignancy. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) offers a promising solution by delivering targeted doses to tumors while minimizing damage to normal tissue. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of BNCT as a potential therapeutic option for spine metastases in mouse models induced by A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. The animal models were randomly allocated into three groups: untreated (n = 10), neutron irradiation only (n = 9), and BNCT (n = 10). Each mouse was administered 4‐borono‐L‐phenylalanine (250 mg/kg) intravenously, followed by measurement of boron concentrations 2.5 h later. Overall survival, neurological function of the hindlimb, and any adverse events were assessed post irradiation. The tumor‐to‐normal spinal cord and blood boron concentration ratios were 3.6 and 2.9, respectively, with no significant difference observed between the normal and compressed spinal cord tissues. The BNCT group exhibited significantly prolonged survival rates compared with the other groups (vs. untreated, p = 0.0015; vs. neutron‐only, p = 0.0104, log‐rank test). Furthermore, the BNCT group demonstrated preserved neurological function relative to the other groups (vs. untreated, p = 0.0004; vs. neutron‐only, p = 0.0051, multivariate analysis of variance). No adverse events were observed post irradiation. These findings indicate that BNCT holds promise as a novel treatment modality for metastatic spinal tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Malignant glioma is a highly invasive tumor, and elucidating the glioma invasion mechanism is essential for developing novel therapies. We aimed to highlight actin alpha 2, smooth muscle (ACTA2) as potential biomarkers of brain invasion and distant recurrence in malignant gliomas. Using the human malignant glioma cell line, U251MG, we generated ACTA2 knockdown (KD) cells treated with small interfering RNA, and the cell motility and proliferation of the ACTA2 KD group were analyzed. Furthermore, tumor samples from 12 glioma patients who underwent reoperation at the time of tumor recurrence were utilized to measure ACTA2 expression in the tumors before and after recurrence. Thereafter, we examined how ACTA2 expression correlates with the time to tumor recurrence and the mode of recurrence. The results showed that the ACTA2 KD group demonstrated a decline in the mean motion distance and proliferative capacity compared to the control group. In the clinical glioma samples, ACTA2 expression was remarkably increased in recurrent samples compared to the primary samples from the same patients, and the higher the change in ACTCA2 expression from the start to relapse, the shorter the progression-free survival. In conclusion, ACTA2 may be involved in distant recurrence in clinical gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO). Despite successful recanalization, approximately one-half of the patients do not achieve a favorable outcome, which is known as "futile recanalization" (FR). The present study aimed to explore the association between stress hyperglycemia and FR after MT., Methods: Data from 224 eligible patients with LVO, who underwent MT at the authors' hospital between January 2015 and December 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into FR and non-FR groups according to functional independence at 3 months according to a modified Rankin scale. Factors influencing FR were identified using multivariate regression and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis., Results: FR was observed in 40 (38.4%) of 104 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.15; P = 0.001), an increased number of passes (OR 1.57 [95% CI 1.03-2.40]; P = 0.034), and a greater stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) (OR 16.0 [95% CI 1.49-172.8]; P = 0.021) were independently associated with FR after MT. ROC curve analysis revealed that a model of combining age, SHR, Diffusion-Weighted Imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Scores, procedure duration, systolic blood pressure, and number of passes (area under the ROC curve: 0.83, [P < 0.01]) were accurate., Conclusions: Results of this study revealed that older age, an increased number of passes, and greater SHR were independently associated with FR after MT in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by LVO., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...

The debate regarding the role and clinical impact of radiotherapy for meningiomas remains underdeveloped due to insufficient evidence. However, following recent revisions in the WHO classification and the integration of molecular diagnostics, there has been a substantial shift in the stratification of recurrence risks. Nevertheless, the specific circumstances under which radiotherapy proves crucial remain unclear. As risk stratification becomes more refined, the effectiveness of radiotherapy in treating high-risk meningiomas continues to be a contentious issue. Concurrently, there is vigorous discussion regarding the management of 'brain invasion in otherwise benign'(BIOB)meningiomas. The incorporation of PET imaging alongside MRI for defining radiation targets is increasingly acknowledged as advantageous. Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT), which specifically targets the biological characteristics of tumor cells in invasive regions, is also gaining significant traction as a promising therapeutic approach for meningiomas with infiltrative components. more...