OBJECTIVEThis report evaluates the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as the first-line treatment of intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas (VSs).METHODSBetween 1987 and 2017, the authors identified 209 patients who underwent SRS as the primary intervention for a unilateral intracanalicular VS. The median patient age was 54 years (range 22–85 years); 94 patients were male and 115 were female. Three patients had facial neuropathy at the time of SRS. One hundred fifty-five patients (74%) had serviceable hearing (Gardner-Robertson [GR] grades I and II) at the time of SRS. The median tumor volume was 0.17 cm3 (range 0.015–0.63 cm3). The median margin dose was 12.5 Gy (range 11.0–25.0 Gy). The median maximum dose was 24.0 Gy (range 15.7–50.0 Gy).RESULTSThe progression-free survival rates of all patients with intracanalicular VS were 97.5% at 3 years, 95.6% at 5 years, and 92.1% at 10 years. The rates of freedom from the need for any additional intervention were 99.4% at 3 years, 98.3% at 5 years, and 98.3% at 10 years. The serviceable hearing preservation rates in GR grade I and II patients at the time of SRS were 76.6% at 3 years, 63.5% at 5 years, and 27.3% at 10 years. In univariate analysis, younger age (< 55 years, p = 0.011), better initial hearing (GR grade I, p < 0.001), and smaller tumor volumes (< 0.14 cm3, p = 0.016) were significantly associated with improved hearing preservation. In multivariate analysis, better hearing (GR grade I, p = 0.001, HR 2.869, 95% CI 1.569–5.248) and smaller tumor volumes (< 0.14 cm3, p = 0.033, HR 2.071, 95% CI 1.059–4.047) at the time of SRS were significantly associated with improved hearing preservation. The hearing preservation rates of patients with GR grade I VS were 88.1% at 3 years, 77.9% at 5 years, and 38.1% at 10 years. The hearing preservation rates of patients with VSs smaller than 0.14 cm3 were 85.5% at 3 years, 77.7% at 5 years, and 42.6% at 10 years. Facial neuropathy developed in 1.4% from 6 to 156 months after SRS.CONCLUSIONSSRS provided sustained tumor control in more than 90% of patients with intracanalicular VS at 10 years and freedom from the need for additional intervention in more than 98% at 10 years. Patients with initially better hearing and smaller VSs had enhanced serviceable hearing preservation during an observation interval up to 10 years after SRS.

OBJECTIVEWhile extensive long-term outcome studies support the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for smaller-volume vestibular schwannomas (VSs), its role in the management for larger-volume tumors remains controversial.METHODSBetween 1987 and 2017, the authors performed single-session SRS on 170 patients with previously untreated Koos grade IV VSs (volumes ranged from 5 to 20 cm3). The median tumor volume was 7.4 cm3. The median maximum extracanalicular tumor diameter was 27.5 mm. All tumors compressed the middle cerebellar peduncle and distorted the fourth ventricle. Ninety-three patients were male, 77 were female, and the median age was 61 years. Sixty-two patients had serviceable hearing (Gardner-Robertson [GR] grades I and II). The median margin dose was 12.5 Gy.RESULTSAt a median follow-up of 5.1 years, the progression-free survival rates of VSs treated with a margin dose ≥ 12.0 Gy were 98.4% at 3 years, 95.3% at 5 years, and 90.7% at 10 years. In contrast, the tumor control rate after delivery of a margin dose < 12.0 Gy was 76.9% at 3, 5, and 10 years. The hearing preservation rates in patients with serviceable hearing at the time of SRS were 58.1% at 3 years, 50.3% at 5 years, and 35.9% at 7 years. Younger age (< 60 years, p = 0.036) and initial GR grade I (p = 0.006) were associated with improved serviceable hearing preservation rate. Seven patients (4%) developed facial neuropathy during the follow-up interval. A smaller tumor volume (< 10 cm3, p = 0.002) and a lower margin dose (≤ 13.0 Gy, p < 0.001) were associated with preservation of facial nerve function. The probability of delayed facial neuropathy when the margin dose was ≤ 13.0 Gy was 1.1% at 10 years. Nine patients (5%) required a ventriculoperitoneal shunt because of delayed symptomatic hydrocephalus. Fifteen patients (9%) developed detectable trigeminal neuropathy. Delayed resection was performed in 4% of patients.CONCLUSIONSEven for larger-volume VSs, single-session SRS prevented the need for delayed resection in almost 90% at 10 years. For patients with minimal symptoms of tumor mass effect, SRS should be considered an effective alternative to surgery in most patients, especially those with advanced age or medical comorbidities.

BACKGROUND Facial nerve schwannomas are rare, challenging tumors to manage due to their nerve of origin. Functional outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are incompletely defined. OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of facial nerve segment involvement on functional outcome for these tumors. METHODS Patients who underwent single-session SRS for facial nerve schwannomas with at least 3 mo follow-up at 11 participating centers were included. Preoperative and treatment variables were recorded. Outcome measures included radiological tumor response and neurological function. RESULTS A total of 63 patients (34 females) were included in the present study. In total, 75% had preoperative facial weakness. Mean tumor volume and margin dose were 2.0 ± 2.4 cm3 and 12.2 ± 0.54 Gy, respectively. Mean radiological follow-up was 45.5 ± 38.9 mo. Progression-free survival at 2, 5, and 10 yr was 98.1%, 87.2%, and 87.2%, respectively. The cumulative proportion of patients with regressing tumors at 2, 5, and 10 yr was 43.1%, 63.6%, and 63.6%, respectively. The number of involved facial nerve segments significantly predicted tumor progression (P = .04). Facial nerve function was stable or improved in 57 patients (90%). Patients with involvement of the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve were significantly more likely to have an improvement in facial nerve function after SRS (P = .03). Hearing worsened in at least 6% of patients. Otherwise, adverse radiation effects included facial twitching (3 patients), facial numbness (2 patients), and dizziness (2 patients). CONCLUSION SRS for facial nerve schwannomas is effective and spares facial nerve function in most patients. Some patients may have functional improvement after treatment, particularly if the labyrinthine segment is involved.

No abstract

These data demonstrate that the majority of conjunctival epithelial CD8(+) T cells are mucosal homing αEβ7(+) effector memory T cells, which can recognize viral epitopes and are capable of secreting Granzyme B and IFN-γ.

IntroductionThe present study evaluates whether hearing deterioration during observation reduces serviceable hearing preservation rates after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in vestibular schwannoma (VS) patients with useful hearing. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 1447 VS patients who underwent SRS between 1992 to 2017. We identi ed 100 VS patients who had Grade I Gardner-Robertson (GR) hearing at initial diagnosis but were observed without surgery or SRS. We compared hearing after SRS in 67 patients who retained GR Grade I hearing from initial diagnosis to SRS (the hearing maintenance or HM group) to 33 patients whose hearing worsened from GR grade I to grade II (the hearing deterioration or HD group). We also investigated whether a decline in pure tone average (PTA) or speech discrimination score (SDS) before SRS affected hearing preservation after SRS. ResultsThe serviceable hearing (GR I and II) preservation in HM patients was 80%s, 63%, and 51% at 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The serviceable hearing preservation in HD patients was 40%, 33%, and 20% at 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, younger age (<55 years, p=0.012) and HM during observation (p<0.001) improved serviceable hearing preservation rates. Patients whose PTA increased >15 dB (p=0.011) or whose SDS declined >10% (p=0.024) had reduced serviceable hearing preservation rates. ConclusionsHearing deterioration during observation before SRS reduced long term hearing preservation rate in VS patients with GR grade I hearing at initial diagnosis. SRS before hearing deterioration was recommended for hearing preservation.

We report a case of persistent twitching of the latissimus dorsi muscle following a posterolateral thoracotomy, which continued despite several attempts at control including denervation, and was ultimately cured by total resection of the muscle.

INTRODUCTIONPrimary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common digestive tract tumors, and surgical resection is the preferred therapeutic method of HCC. However, as caudate lobe is located in the middle of the back of liver, surrounded by a large number of large vessels, it is difficult and risky to resect.1 Many doctors attempted to adopt TACE-based non-operative method for the treatment of HCC located in the caudate lobe, but its clinical effects are controversial. In addition, with the continuous improvement of surgical approach, surgical method and surgical instruments, there are more and more reports on caudate lobe resection, but the long-term ABSTRACT Background: To investigate therapies of hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe, surgical approach and method, surgical outcome of hepatic caudate lobotomy. Methods: Clinical data of 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe who received surgical treatment in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jan 2010 to Jan 2014 was retrospectively analyzed. Results: Two patients selected TACE therapy. However, tumor metastasis was observed on them in short term, and the therapeutic effect was poor after several times of treatment. Nine patients received surgical treatment. Surgical approaches included left approach, right approach and combined approaches from the left and right side; surgical method was part or complete caudate lobe resection combining with other liver segments. The operation time was 220.0-350.0 minutes, with the average value of 259.4 minutes. The vascular clamping time was 21.0-45.0 minutes, with the average value of 30.2 minutes. The bleeding volume was 400.0-1800.0 ml, with the average value of 844.4 ml. In all patients, there was no perioperative death and no postoperative liver failure happened, and 4 patients who suffered from interrelated complications were cured or got better by conservative treatments. All patients were followed up for 24 months. The recurrent rates of 1 and 2-year were 44.4%, 88.9% respectively, and the survival rates of 1 and 2 year were 66.7%, 44.4% respectively after surgical resection. Conclusions: Resection is still the preferred therapeutic method for hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe. However, long-term outcomes of the therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe need further improvement.