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Background: The Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (MTB) is a collaborative platform involving specialists in oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology, and radiotherapy, and aims to optimize diagnostics and treatments. Despite MTB's widespread benefits, limited literature addresses its application in pediatric neuro-oncology. After a literature revision on pediatric neuro-oncology MTB, our study describes our institute's pediatric neuro-oncology MTB, focuses on evaluating its impact and the neuroradiologist's role in patient-centric approaches, considering recent genetic insights into pediatric brain tumors. Materials and methods: Literature Review concerning pediatric neuro-oncology MTB from January 2002 to June 2024. Clinical Data: retrospective study of all patient files presented in the pediatric neuro-oncology MTB (pnMTB) between 2019 and 2022. Statistical analysis was mainly carried out by directly comparing the absolute or relative values of the respective parameters examined; qualitative variables compared mainly with the chi-square test, quantitative variables mainly with the t-test. Results: Literature Review: 7 papers encompass a multidisciplinary approach for the pediatric CNS tumors. Clinical data: A total of 236 discussions were analyzed representing 107 patients. Median age was 14,3 years (range: 6 months – 17 years). The requests for case evaluations primarily came from the pediatric oncologists (83%) and neurosurgeons (14.8%), and they were mainly addressed to the neuroradiologists (70.3%). Proposals during pnMTB mainly involved imaging follow-up (47.8%) and management with chemotherapy (34.7%). Changes in patient treatment (CPT) occurred in 115 cases, and pediatric neuroradiologist intervention contributed to 72.4% of these changes. Conclusion: Thanks to their multidisciplinarity, high number of cases discussed, and usual respect for their proposals, the pnMTB has made it possible to improve the coordination among specialties involved in patient management, to apply the recent protocols, and to exchange knowledge among teams managing pediatric CNS tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that glioma cells tend to infiltrate and migrate along WM tracts, leading to demyelination and axonal injuries, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) emerged as a promising tool for identifying major "high-risk areas" of recurrence within the peritumoral brain zone (PBZ) or at a distance throughout the adjacents white matter tracts. Of our systematic review is to answer the following research question: In patients with brain tumor, is DTI able to recognizes within the peri-tumoral brain zone (PBZ) areas more prone to local (near the surgical cavity) or remote recurrence compared to the conventional imaging techniques?. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify relevant studies in line with the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) guidelines. 15 papers were deemed compatible with our research question and included. To enhance the paper's readability, we have categorized our findings into two distinct groups: the first delves into the role of DTI in detecting PBZ sub-regions of infiltration and local recurrences (n = 8), while the second group explores the feasibility of DTI in detecting white matter tract infiltration and remote recurrences (n = 7). DTI values and, within a broader framework, radiomics investigations can provide precise, voxel-by-voxel insights into the state of PBZ and recurrences. Better defining the regions at risk for potential recurrence within the PBZ and along WM bundles will allow targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system, with a poor prognosis despite many available treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The evaluation of treatment response is essential to optimize patient outcomes. While structural MRI remains the cornerstone of imaging evaluation, advanced MRI modalities have increasingly become crucial in characterizing treatment effects more comprehensively. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to provide an overview on the role of advanced MRI modalities at the different clinical-therapeutic timepoints, thus helping radiologists and clinicians to be more confident in their applicability in clinical practice and at the proper timepoint. MRI plays a key role in the evaluation of post-treatment changes, both in the immediate post-operative period and during follow-up. There are many different treatment's lines and many different neuroradiological findings according to the treatment chosen and the clinical timepoint at which MRI is performed. Structural MRI is often insufficient to correctly interpret and define treatment-related changes. For that, advanced MRI modalities, including perfusion and permeability imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, are increasingly utilized in clinical practice to characterize treatment effects more comprehensively. This article aims to provide an overview of the role of advanced MRI modalities in the evaluation of treated glioblastomas. For a didactic purpose, we choose to divide the treatment history in three main timepoints: post-surgery, during Stupp (first-line treatment) and at recurrence (second-line treatment). For each, a brief introduction, a temporal subdivision (when useful) or a specific drug-related paragraph were provided. Finally, the current trends and application of radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) in the evaluation of treated GB have been outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MRI is undoubtedly the cornerstone of brain tumor imaging, playing a key role in all phases of patient management, starting from diagnosis, through therapy planning, to treatment response and/or recurrence assessment. Currently, neuroimaging can describe morphologic and non-morphologic (functional, hemodynamic, metabolic, cellular, microstructural, and sometimes even genetic) characteristics of brain tumors, greatly contributing to diagnosis and follow-up. Knowing the technical aspects, strength and limits of each MR technique is crucial to correctly interpret MR brain studies and to address clinicians to the best treatment strategy. This article aimed to provide an overview of neuroimaging in the assessment of adult primary brain tumors. We started from the basilar role of conventional/morphological MR sequences, then analyzed, one by one, the non-morphological techniques, and finally highlighted future perspectives, such as radiomics and artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Psychological distress in primary malignant brain tumour (PMBT) patients is associated with poorer outcomes. Radiotherapy (RT) often induces side effects that significantly influence patients' quality of life (QoL), with potential impact on survival. We evaluated distress, anxiety, depression, and QoL over time to identify patients with difficulties in these areas who required more intense psychological support. Methods: Psychological questionnaires—Distress Thermometer (DT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-G and FACT-Br)—were completed at the beginning (T0), in the middle (T1), directly after RT (T2), and 3 months after RT (T3). We personalised the psychological support provided for each patient with a minimum of three sessions ('typical' schedule) and a maximum of eight sessions ('intensive' schedule), depending on the patients' psychological profiles, clinical evaluations, and requests. Patients' survival was evaluated in the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients, with an explorative intent. Results: Fifty-nine consecutive PMBT patients receiving post-operative RT were included. For patients who were reported as 'not distressed' at T0, no statistically significant changes were noted. In contrast, patients who were 'distressed' at T0 showed statistically significant improvements in DT, HADS, FACT-G, and FACT-Br scores over time. 'Not distressed' patients required less psychological sessions over the study duration than 'distressed' patients. Interestingly, 'not distressed' GBM patients survived longer than 'distressed' GBM patients. Conclusions: Increased psychological support improved distress, mood, and QoL for patients identified as 'distressed', whereas psychological well-being was maintained with typical psychological support in patients who were identified as being 'not distressed'. These results encourage a standardisation of psychological support for all RT patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is useful for glioma grading and discriminating between brain tumor categories in adults, but its diagnostic value for pediatric brain tumors is unclear. Here we evaluated the usefulness of SWI for pediatric tumor grading and differentiation by assessing intratumoral susceptibility signal intensity (ITSS). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 96 children with histopathologically diagnosed brain tumors, who underwent routine brain MRI exam with SWI (1.5 T scanner). Each tumor was assigned an ITSS score by a radiology resident and an experienced neuroradiologist, and subsequently by consensus. Statistical analyses were performed to differentiate between low-grade (LG) and high-grade (HG) tumors, histological categories, and tumor locations. Inter-reader agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa (κ). Results: The interobserver agreement was 0.844 (0.953 between first reader and consensus, and 0.890 between second reader and consensus). Among all tumors, we found a statistically significant difference between LG and HG for ITSS scores of 0 and 2 (p = 0.002). This correlation was weaker among astrocytomas alone, and became significant when considering only off-midline astrocytomas (p = 0.05). Scores of 0 and 2 were a strong discriminating factor (p = 0.001) for astrocytomas (score 0) and for embryonal, choroid plexus, germ-cell, pineal, and ependymoma tumors (score 2). No medulloblastoma showed a score of 0. Conclusions: Our preliminary ITTS results in pediatric brain tumors somewhat differed from those obtained in adult populations. These findings highlight the potential valuable role of ITSS for tumor grading and discriminating between some tumor categories in the pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The multi-disciplinary tumor board (MTB) is essential to quality cancer care and currently recommended to offer the best personalized clinical approach, but little has been published regarding MTBs in neuro-oncology (nMTBs). The aim of the present paper is to describe our nMTB, to evaluate its impact on clinical management decisions, and to assess the role of neuroradiologists. Methods: The retrospective evaluation of the cases discussed at our nMTB from March 2017 to March 2020. From the electronic records, we extracted epidemiological, clinical and other specific data of nMTB. From the radiological records, we calculated data relating to the number, time for revision, and other specifications of MRI re-evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: a total of 447 discussions were analyzed, representing 342 patients. The requests for case evaluations came from radiation oncologists (58.8%) and neurosurgeons (40.5%), and were mainly addressed to the neuroradiologist (73.8%). The most frequent questions were about the treatment's changes (64.4%). The change in patient treatment was reported in 40.5% of cases, 76.8% of these were based on the neuroradiologic assessment. A total of 1514 MRI examinations were re-evaluated, employing approximately 67 h overall. The median of the MRI exams reviewed per patient was 3 (min–max 1–12). Conclusions: Our study supported that the multidisciplinary approach to patient care can be particularly effective in managing brain tumors. A review by an expert neuroradiologist impacts patient management in the context of nMTBs, but has costs in terms of the time and effort spent preparing for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain biopsy is the gold standard in order to establish the diagnosis of unresectable brain tumors. Few studies have investigated the long-term outcomes of biopsy patients. The aim of this single-institution-based study was to assess the concordance between radiological and histopathological diagnoses, and the long-term patient outcome. Ninety-three patients who underwent brain biopsy in the last 5 years were analyzed. We included patients treated with stereotactically guided needle, open, and neuroendoscopic biopsies. Most patients (86%) received needle biopsy. Gliomas and primary brain lymphomas comprised 88.2% of cases. The diagnostic yield was 95.7%. Serious complication and death rates were 3.2% and 2.1%, respectively. The concordance rate between radiological and histological diagnoses was 93%. Notably, the positive predictive value of radiological diagnosis of lymphoma was 100%. Biopsy allowed specific treatment in 72% of cases. Disease-related neurological worsening was the main reason that precluded adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant treatment, in turn, was the strongest prognostic factor, since the median overall survival was 11 months with vs. 2 months without treatment (p = 0.0002). Finally, advanced molecular evaluations can be obtained on glioma biopsy specimens to provide integrated diagnoses and individually tailored treatments. We conclude that, despite the huge advances in imaging techniques, biopsy is required when an adjuvant treatment is recommended, particularly in gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain shift may cause significant error in neuronavigation, leading the surgeon to possible mistakes. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most reliable technique in brain tumor surgery. Unfortunately, it is highly expensive and time consuming and, at the moment, it is available only in few neurosurgical centers. In this case series the surgical workflow for brain tumor surgery is described where neuronavigation of preoperative MRI, intraoperative computed tomography (CT) scan, and ultrasound (US) as well as rigid and elastic image fusion between preoperative MRI and intraoperative US and CT, respectively, was applied to 4 brain tumor patients in order to compensate for surgically induced brain shift by using a commercially available software (Elements Image Fusion 4.0 with Virtual iMRI Cranial; Brainlab AG, München, Germany). Four illustrative cases demonstrated successful integration of different components of the described intraoperative surgical workflow. The data indicate that intraoperative navigation update is feasible by applying intraoperative 3-dimensional US and CT scanning as well as rigid and elastic image fusion applied depending on the degree of observed brain shift. Integration of multiple intraoperative imaging techniques combined with rigid and elastic image fusion of preoperative MRI may reduce the risk of incorrect neuronavigation during brain tumor resection. Further studies are needed to confirm the present findings in a larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]