Treatment Of Cavernous Malformations Research Articles

ДИФЕРЕНЦІАЛЬНА ДІАГНОСТИКА ЦЕРЕБРАЛЬНИХ СУДИННИХ ВАД І ОБ’ЄМНИХ НОВОУТВОРЕНЬ ФУНКЦІОНАЛЬНО ВАЖЛИВИХ ДІЛЯНОК МОЗКУ: КРИТЕРІЇ ВИБОРУ НЕЙРОХІРУРГІЧНОЇ ТАКТИКИ

Introduction. We believe, that in the planning of the surgical removal of cerebral vascular malformations (CVM) of eloquent brain areas, a question of whether they include the functionally sustainable brain tissue remains relevant. The question of whether the surgical procedure is safe is paramount. Aim. To assess the value of magnetic resonance (MR) tractography in deciding on the tactics of surgical treatment of CVM through comparison with morphological studies. Study methods. A review of the literature concerning the surgical treatment of cavernous malformations (CM) and arteriovenous malformations (AVM) localized in eloquent brain areas (EBA). Four patients with CVM of EBA were selected based on the availability of MR tractography data and histologic specimens. The method of optical microscopy was used to study microslides stained with the classic (hematoxylin-eosin) and specialized methods (Masson’s and Hart’s methods). Results. Patients’ MR-tractography data showed the presence of conductive paths in the tissues of CM and AVM and the reduced fractional anisotropy in the regions of interest, which indicates their involvement. During optical microscopy of specimens of CVMs, we found brain tissues between pathological vessels. To our opinion, this explains the visualization of conducting paths in CVMs during MR tractography. Conclusions. When planning surgeries in case of CVMs, attention should be paid to the results of conductive path visualization. According to MR tractography and morphological data, in some cases, there is brain parenchyma in the structure of CMs and AVMs, which may require additional attention in deciding on the radical resection of CVMs of EBAs.

DIAGNOSIS AND FEATURES OF THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CAVERNOUS MALFORMATIONS OF THE BRAIN

The article presents an analysis on the modern aspects of diagnosis and surgical treatment of cavernous malformations of the brain. The modern approaches to surgical treatment depending on the type of clinical course of cavernous angiomas you can see in this paper.

Cavernous malformations of the brain and modern views on their treatment

Cavernous malformations of the brain have become an increasingly common pathology in recent years, thanks to the advancement of modern methods of neuroimaging. Despite the benign nature of the course in most cases, these formations can cause convulsions and serious neurological disorders. Typically, clinical manifestations are caused by hemorrhages in the structure of the cavernous and surrounding parenchyma of the brain. The management strategy chosen for patients with cerebral cavernous malformations is determined by the type of malformation, its size, localization, the presence of repeated hemorrhages, and the clinical picture. This literature review focuses on modern methods of treating cerebral cavernous malformations. The main methods of treatment for cavernous malformations of the brain, particularly surgical treatment, have been analyzed. If surgical intervention is not possible, alternative methods of treatment include radiation therapy, such as stereotaxic radiosurgery, and proton therapy, in cases of deep location of foci in functionally significant areas of the brain, which are characterized by the highest risk of complications. Thе possibilities, efficacy, and safety of stereotactic radiosurgical treatment are discussed, as well as the use of proton therapy in the treatment of cavernous malformations. Furthermore, radiation therapy has been shown to be beneficial for cavernous malformations.

Clinical observation of surgical treatment of cavernous malformation of the dorsal pons using intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring

The presented clinical observation of surgical treatment of cavernous malformation of the left dorsal part of pons using the intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is of scientific and applied interest. IONM is a relatively new diagnostic and at the same time the least studied direction in the system of neurophysiological support in high-tech neurosurgical care in Ukraine. The clinical manifestations, the results of clinical and instrumental methods of examination, and the course of the operation are analyzed in detail. The ISIS IONM system (Inomed, Germany) was used for monitoring. This case demonstrates that the use of multimodal IONM allows you to identify in real time most of the structures of the central nervous system that are at risk of surgery and prevent their damage. This makes it possible to prevent the development of postoperative neurological deficits and reduce the risk of disability in patients. The factor that ensures the success of IONM is the constructive interaction of neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists, and anesthesiologist.

Application of functional imaging, neuronavigation, and intraoperative MR imaging in the surgical treatment of brain cavernomas

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative functional imaging and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) facilitate surgery and improve outcomes in the surgical treatment of cavernous malformations of the brain (CM). Materials and Methods: Retrospective data analysis was performed for consecutive patients diagnosed with a CM who underwent surgical treatment at a single academic institution during a 12 year period. A total of 91 patients was eligible for analysis with a mean age of 38.8 ± 15 years (range 2–72 years). Altogether, 89.0% of CM had supratentorial and 11% infratentorial location. Results: Neuronavigation and iMRI was used in 69 (75.8%) patients with 28 (30.8%) of them together with functional MRI (fMRI) all in the supratentorial location. In 4.3% (3 cases) an intraoperative second-look surgery was performed. Altogether, a complete resection was achieved in 93% of the patients. In supratentorial surgeries, surgical times were significantly shorter in the fMRI group (p = 0.036), but altogether, infratentorial CM surgery took significantly longer (p = 0.014). Moreover, in the fMRI group, reduction of seizure medication was achieved significantly more often (p = 0.026). At an FU of 6.1± 3.1 years, 96% of the patients were assessed modified Rankin Scale 0 or 1. Conclusion: Neuronavigation together with intraoperative and functional MRI had a significant impact on resection amount, surgical time, and neurological and seizure outcome of supratentorial CM. In addition, iMRI was beneficial in few-selected cases.

海綿状血管奇形の特徴と治療

海綿状血管奇形の特徴と治療

Diagnosis and treatment of cavernous malformations of the spine and spinal cord

Diagnosis and treatment of cavernous malformations of the spine and spinal cord

Stereotactic radiosurgery for deep-seated cavernous malformations: a move toward more active, early intervention

The role of radiosurgery in the treatment of cavernous malformations (CMs) remains controversial. It is frequently recommended only for inoperable lesions that have bled at least twice. Rehemorrhage can carry a substantial risk of morbidity, however. The authors reviewed their practice of treating deep-seated inoperable CMs to assess the complication rate of radiosurgery, the impact that radiosurgery might have on rebleeding, and whether a more active, earlier intervention is justified in managing this condition. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 113 patients with 79 brainstem and 39 thalamic/basal ganglia CMs treated with Gamma Knife surgery. Lesions were stratified into 2 groups: those that might be lower risk with no more than 1 symptomatic bleed before radiosurgical treatment and those deemed high risk with multiple symptomatic hemorrhages before treatment. Forty-one CMs had multiple symptomatic hemorrhages before radiosurgery with a first-ever bleed rate of 2.9% per lesion per year, a rebleed rate of 30.5% per lesion per year, and a median time of 1.5 years between the first and second bleeds. In this group the rebleed rate decreased to 15% for the first 2 years after radiosurgery and declined further to 2.4% thereafter. Pretreatment multiple bleeds led to persistent deficits in 72% of the patients. Seventy-seven CMs had no more than 1 symptomatic bleed before radiosurgery, making for a lifetime bleed rate of 2.2% per lesion per year. The short period between the presenting bleed and treatment (median 1 year) makes the natural history in this group uncertain. The rate of hemorrhage in the first 2 years after treatment was 5.1%, and 1.3% thereafter. Pretreatment hemorrhages resulted in permanent deficits in 43% of the patients in this group, a rate significantly lower than in the multiple-bleeds group (p < 0.001). Posttreatment hemorrhages led to persistent deficits in only 7.3% of the patients. Permanent adverse radiation effects were rare (7.3%) and minor in both groups. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a safe management strategy for CMs in eloquent sites with the marked advantage of reducing rebleed risks in patients with repeated pretreatment hemorrhages. The benefit in treating CMs with a single bleed is less clear. Note, however, that repeated hemorrhage carries a significant risk of increased morbidity far in excess of any radiosurgery-related morbidity, and the authors assert that this finding justifies the early active management of deep-seated CMs.

Pre- and postoperative neuroimaging of cavernous malformations

The introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of cavernous malformations. The MRI characteristics of these lesions are in most cases pathognomonic and the diagnosis of cavernous malformation can frequently be established on the basis of neuroimaging findings alone, without the need for pathological confirmation. MRI also precisely demonstrates the location of the lesion and defines its relationship to surrounding structures, providing essential data for preoperative evaluation and surgical planning. The role of MR imaging in the immediate postoperative setting remains less clear, as the extent of the surgical resection and correspondingly, the presence of residual cavernous malformation tissue is frequently difficult to determine. In the postoperative setting, long-term follow up is generally required to confirm a curative resection.

An analysis of the natural history of cavernous malformations

The treatment of cavernous malformations has been controversial. Some reports suggest that surgical resection of the lesion for the prevention of recurrent hemorrhage should not be considered because of low hemorrhagic risk. However, the role of surgery in management of cavernous malformations is undergoing reevaluation. The decision for surgical resection should be based on a careful analysis of the natural history of this lesion, which is not well understood. We investigated, retrospectively, the natural history of 108 cavernous malformations in 62 patients. Individual cavernous malformations were divided into four categories on the basis of magnetic resonance (MR) findings. The pattern of clinical and radiologic presentation and outcomes of management were analyzed. The age of the patients ranged from 4-63 years (mean: 32.2 years). Multiple lesions were found in 13 of 62 patients (21%) and two of these patients were siblings. Twenty-five out of 62 patients had suffered recurrent symptoms. The bleeding rate was 2.3%/person/year (1.4%/lesion/year) during 2509.6 patient years. There were no significant differences between the bleeding rates of each type of lesion. During the follow-up period of 12-48 months (mean: 22.4 months), two of 28 patients conservatively treated had recurrent hemorrhages (rebleeding rate: 3.8%/person/year). During the follow-up period of 12-66 months (mean: 21.7 months), recurrent hemorrhages were observed in two of 17 patients with radiosurgery (rebleeding rate: 7.8%/person/year). Our study has provided a profile of the natural history of these lesions. Based on our results, we recommend surgical excision of cavernous malformations in those patients with recurrent symptoms or acute progressive symptoms.