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Meningiomas are the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Extracranial meningiomas are rare, constituting 2% of all meningiomas. We describe a case of Lopez type III meningioma of the scalp in a 72-year-old gentleman who had a long-standing giant scalp mass and presented with recent mild left-sided limb weakness and numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull demonstrated a right frontoparietal tumor extending through the skull into the scalp. Tumor excision revealed World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1 meningioma. Clinicians should correlate a cutaneous skull mass and new onset of neurological symptoms. Cutaneous meningioma is an important differential diagnosis.

Introduction Cycling is associated with a greater risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) than other recreational activities. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of sports-related TBI in Hong Kong and to examine predictors for recreational cycling-induced intracranial haemorrhage. Methods This retrospective multicentre study included patients diagnosed with sports-related TBI in public hospitals in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2019. Computed tomography scans were reviewed by an independent assessor. The primary endpoint was traumatic intracranial haemorrhage. The secondary endpoint was an unfavourable Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at discharge from hospital. Results In total, 720 patients were hospitalised with sports-related TBI. The most common sport was cycling (59.2%). The crude incidence of cycling-related TBI was 1.1 per 100 000 population. Cyclists were more likely to exhibit intracranial haemorrhage and an unfavourable GOS score, compared with patients who had TBI because of other sports. Although 47% of cyclists had intracranial haemorrhage, only 15% wore a helmet. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors for intracranial haemorrhage were age ≥60 years, antiplatelet medication, moderate or severe TBI, and skull fracture. Among 426 cyclists, 375 (88%) had mild TBI, and helmet wearing was protective against intracranial haemorrhage, regardless of age, antiplatelet medication intake, and mechanism of injury. Of 426 cyclists, 31 (7.3%) had unfavourable outcomes on discharge from hospital. Conclusions The incidence of sports-related TBI is low in Hong Kong. Although cycling-related head injuries carried greater risks of intracranial haemorrhage and unfavourable outcomes compared with other sports, most cyclists experienced good recovery. Helmet wearing among recreational cyclists with mild TBI was protective against intracranial haemorrhage and skull fracture.

Introduction Radiotherapy-induced glioblastomas (RIGB) are a well-known late and rare complication of brain irradiation. Yet the clinical, radiological and molecular characteristics of these tumors are not well characterized. Methods This was a retrospective multicentre study that analysed adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma over a 10-year period. Patients with RIGB were identified according to Cahan's criteria for radiation-induced tumors. A case-control analysis was performed to compare known prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) with an independent cohort of IDH-1 wildtype de novo glioblastomas treated with standard temozolomide chemoradiotherapy. Survival analysis was performed by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results A total of 590 adult patients were diagnosed with glioblastoma. 19 patients (3%) had RIGB. The mean age of patients upon diagnosis was 48 years ± 15. The mean latency duration from radiotherapy to RIGB was 14 years ± 8. The mean total dose was 58Gy ± 10. One-third of patients (37%, 7/19) had nasopharyngeal cancer and a fifth (21%, 4/19) had primary intracranial germinoma. Compared to a cohort of 146 de novo glioblastoma patients, RIGB patients had a shorter median OS of 4.8 months versus 19.2 months (p-value: Conclusion The propensity for RIGBs to develop in the cerebellum and to be pMGMT unmethylated may contribute to their poorer prognosis. When possible re-irradiation may offer a survival benefit. Nasopharyngeal cancer and germinomas accounted for the majority of original malignancies reflecting their prevalence among Southern Chinese.

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is the commonest neurosurgical procedure performed in daily neurosurgical practice, but relatively few studies have investigated the incidence and risk factors of its related hemorrhagic complications. This was a multicenter retrospective review of consecutive EVD procedures. Patients 18 years or older who underwent EVD and had a routine postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan performed within 24 hours were included. EVD-related hemorrhage was defined as new intracranial hemorrhage immediately adjacent or within the ventricular catheter trajectory. The volume of hemorrhage and the position of the catheter tip were assessed. A review of patient-, disease-, and surgery-related factors including the ventricular catheter design utilized was conducted. The Bonferroni correction was applied to the alpha level of significance (0.05) for multivariable analysis. Nine hundred sixty-two patients underwent 1002 EVD performed by neurosurgeons in the operating theater. Sixteen percent (154) of patients were on aspirin before the procedure. Thirty-four percent (333) of patients had intracerebral hemorrhage, 25% (251) had aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and 16% (158) had traumatic brain injury. The mean duration from EVD to the first postoperative CT scan was 20 ± 4 h. EVD-related hematomas were detected after 81 procedures with a per-catheter risk of 8.1%. Mean hematoma volume was 1.2 ± 3.3 ml. Most were less than 1 ml (grade I, 79%, 64), 1 to 15 ml (grade II) in 20% (16) and a single clot larger than 15 ml (grade III, 1%) were detected. Clinically significant hemorrhage that resulted in catheter occlusion occurred in 1.7% (17) of procedures. Most catheters (62%, 625) were optimally placed, i.e., its tip being within the ipsilateral frontal horn or third ventricle. Three non-antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheter designs were used with 55% (550) being the 2.2-mm Integra™ catheter, 14% (137) being the 2.8-mm Medtronic™ catheter, and 31% (315) being the 3.1-mm Codman™ catheter. Independent significant predictors for EVD-related hemorrhage were the preoperative prescription of aspirin (adjusted OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.10–3.44), catheter malposition (aOR 1.99; 95% CI 1.22–3.23), and use of the 2.8-mm Medtronic™ catheter (aOR 4.22; 95% CI 2.39–7.41). The per-catheter risk of hemorrhage was 8.1%, but the incidence of symptomatic hemorrhage was low. The only patient risk factor was aspirin intake. This is the first study to evaluate and establish an association between catheter malposition and catheter design with EVD-related hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION Infantile glioblastoma is rare with poor prognosis. Recent molecular study for infantile hemispheric high grade glioma found its association with ALK/ROS1/NTRK/MET pathway. This suggested the potential use of targeted therapy for refractory / relapse patients. CASE: A newborn presented with apnea, CT brain showed intracranial haemorrhage. MRI then showed a left parietal tumour with bleeding and mass effect. Craniotomy achieved subtotal resection. Chemotherapy VCR/CPM alternating with CDDP/VP-16 was given for one year. Patient was stable with static residual tumour during chemotherapy. However patient developed status epilepticus two weeks after off treatment. MRI showed significant tumour progression which required 2nd & 3rd debulking surgery. Molecular assay by nanostring panel showed BRAF-KIAA1549 fusion. MEK inhibitor Trametinib was tried for 3 months and stopped as disease progression. Further molecular assay by RNASeq showed presence of ROS1 fusion (ZCCHC8-ROS1) while absent of BRAF fusion. Patient underwent 4th debulking surgery as impending herniation while waiting for the targeted therapy. It was complicated with right hemiplegia and facial nerve palsy postoperatively. Finally, ROS1 inhibitor Entrectinib was started 2 weeks later. It was well tolerated without significant adverse reaction. Patient made dramatic neurological recovery including improved facial nerve palsy, able to walk unaided and self feed. MRI brain 1 and 3 months after Entrectinib showed interval reduction in residual tumour. Patient is currently progression-free for 6 months. CONCLUSION Early molecular study for infantile glioblastoma is useful to guide novel therapy. Molecular result may varies between different panels or change over time, to be interpreted with caution.

Background Experimental evidence has indicated the benefit of simvastatin in the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, no clinical data are available to answer whether a high-dose regimen is more effective than a normal-dose regimen, even though the biochemical actions and related neuroprotective mechanisms are thought to be dose related. Objective To determine whether 80 mg simvastatin daily (high dose) over 3 weeks initiated within 96 hours of the ictus will reduce the incidence of delayed ischemic deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with 40 mg simvastatin daily (normal dose), leading to improvements in clinical outcomes and thus cost-effectiveness. Methods The study design is a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial (www.ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier: NCT01077206). Two hundred forty patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (presenting within 96 hours of the ictus) from 6 neurosurgical centers are being recruited over 3 years. The primary outcome measure is the presence of delayed ischemic deficits. Secondary outcome measures include modified Rankin Disability Score at 3 months and cost-effectiveness analysis. Expected outcomes This will be the first study to clarify whether high-dose simvastatin is better than normal-dose simvastatin for patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in terms of neurological outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Discussion In the present trial, we compare high-dose and normal-dose simvastatin; we know that another ongoing phase III multicenter trial (Simvastatin in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage; http://www.stashtrial.com/home.html) is comparing normal-dose and no simvastatin. When the results are interpreted together, the research question of a possible beneficial effect of high-dose simvastatin in acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage could be answered.

Background and Purpose— Experimental evidence has indicated the benefits of simvastatin for the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Two randomized placebo-controlled pilot trials that used the highest clinically approved dose of simvastatin (80 mg daily) gave positive results despite the fact that a lower dose of simvastatin (40 mg daily) did not improve clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that a high dose of 80 mg of simvastatin daily for 3 weeks would reduce the incidence of delayed ischemic deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with a lower dose (40 mg of simvastatin daily) and lead to improved clinical outcomes. Methods— The study design was a randomized controlled double-blinded clinical trial. Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (presenting within 96 hours of the ictus) from 6 neurosurgical centers were recruited for 3 years. The primary outcome measure was the presence of delayed ischemic deficits, and secondary outcome measures included a modified Rankin disability score at 3 months and an analysis of cost-effectiveness. Results— No difference was observed between the groups treated with the higher dose or the lower dose of simvastatin in the incidence of delayed ischemic deficits (27% versus 24%; odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.7–2.0; P =0.586) or in the rate of favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at 3 months (73% versus 72%; odds ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.6–1.9; P =0.770). Conclusions— High-dose simvastatin treatment should not be prescribed routinely for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01077206.

Aim The aim of this present study was to determine the frequency, as well as risk factors, for seizures and antiepileptic drug (AED)-associated adverse effects among high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. Patients and Methods A multicentre, retrospective study of adult Chinese Hong Kong patients from three neurosurgical centres diagnosed with supratentorial HGG between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2010 was performed. Results A total of 198 patients, with a mean age of 55 years (range: 18–88) and a mean follow up of 15 months, was recruited. Most suffered from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (63 per cent) followed by anaplastic astrocytoma (25 per cent). Median overall survival for patients with GBM was 8 months, and 11 months for those with grade III gliomas. Prophylactic AED was prescribed in 165 patients (83 per cent), and 64 per cent of patients were continued until end of life or last follow up. A total of 112 patients (57 per cent) experienced seizures at a mean duration of 8 months postoperatively (range: 1 day–75 months). Independent predictors for seizures were a diagnosis of GBM [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.33, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI): 1.21–4.52] and adjuvant radiotherapy (adjusted OR: 2.97, 95 per cent CI: 1.49–6.62). One-fifth of patients (21 per cent) experienced AED adverse effects, with idiosyncratic cutaneous reactions and hepatotoxicity most frequently observed. An independent predictor for adverse effects was exposure to aromatic AED, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital (adjusted OR: 3.32, 95 per cent CI: 1.32–8.40). Conclusions Antiepileptic drug prescription for primary seizure prophylaxis is both pervasive and prolonged for HGG patients. Seizures occur frequently, but most were delayed and none were life threatening. Judicious prescription of AED is required, especially when a significant proportion of patients experience adverse effects. Patients with a diagnosis of GBM and exposure to radiotherapy are at risk. We suggest, contrary to present practice, that primary seizure prophylaxis be given only during the perioperative period and resumed when they occur. We also recommend avoidance of aromatic AED due to their association with idiosyncratic adverse effects.

Background: The use of prophylactic antibiotics has been shown to decrease the rate of surgical-site infections after clean neurosurgical operations, although previous clinical trials have provided no evidence that one antibiotic is superior to another for this purpose. Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the rates of postoperative infectious complications of neurosurgery with prophylactic ceftriaxone and ampicillin/sulbactam, a less-expensive antibiotic. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing neurosurgery between January and December 1998 were recruited for the study. Those who had an infectious disease for which antibiotics were required, who received antibiotics within 48 hours before surgery, were aged 85 years, had an indwelling catheter for the monitoring of intracranial pressure, or had a history of allergy to the study drugs were excluded. Before the operation, eligible patients were randomized to either ampicillin/sulbactam 3 g or ceftriaxone 2 g. Surgeons and patients were blinded to treatment assignment. The study drugs were administered by the anesthesiologist as an IV bolus after induction of general anesthesia. All patients were followed for 6 weeks postoperatively. If reoperation was required within 6 weeks of the original operation, the patient received the same antibiotic as during the first surgery, without further randomization. Results: Over the 1-year study period, 180 consecutive patients undergoing neurosurgical operations were recruited. Surgical-site infection occurred in 2 (2.3%) patients in the ampicillin/sulbactam group and 3 (3.3%) in the ceftriaxone group; nonsurgical-site infection occurred in 25 (28.4%) patients in the ampicillin/sulbactam group and 15 (16.3%) in the ceftriaxone group. The between-group differences were not statistically significant, with the exception of surgical implantation of foreign material, which was performed significantly more frequently in the ceftriaxone group ( P = 0.045). In addition, 2 of 3 surgical-site infections in the ceftriaxone group involved foreign-material implantation; however, if these operations are omitted from the analysis, the difference between treatments remains nonsignificant. Conclusions: The results suggest that ampicillin/sulbactam and ceftriaxone are of similar prophylactic efficacy in clean neurosurgical operations. Because the acquisition cost of 2 g ceftriaxone is ∼3 times greater than that of 3 g ampicillin/sulbactam, the latter may be more cost-effective than the former for neurosurgical prophylaxis; however, other relevant hospital-related costs were not assessed in this study.