1. Batty, R., Vitta, L., Whitby, E. H., & Griffiths, P. D. (2012). Is There a Causal Relationship Between Open Spinal Dysraphism and Chiari II Deformity? A Study Using in Utero Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Fetus. Neurosurgery, 70(4), 890–9. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e318237a6c1
Sixty-five fetuses with lumbosacral dysraphism who were imaged between 18 and 36 weeks gestation were compared with fetuses with normal brains and spines, and a variety of measurements of the dysraphism and posterior fossa obtained. 23% of the fetuses with open dysraphisms did not have a Chiari II malformation. Also, the size or volume of the spinal defect was found not to be a determining cause as to the presence or absence of the Chiari II deformity. There is not a simple linear correlation between the severity of the spinal malformation and the degree of bony posterior fossa restriction. Very good discussion of the limitations of the methodology.
2. Axelsen, M., Thomassen, L. D., Bünger, C., Bendtsen, M., Zou, X., Flo, C., Wang, Y., et al. (2012). Estimating risk of pulmonary neoplastic embolism during vertebroplasty. Spine, 37(7), 551–6. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31822e7a98
This was clever. The authors used a cancer model in pigs by injecting 99m Tc-labeled albumin macroaggregates into the center of L5 and L6 prior to vertebroplasty. Then continuous scintigraphic imaging was performed with 1-minute frames over the lungs and vertebrae before and after methacrylate injection. They found a significant risk of exporting neoplastic disease or fatty tissue to the lungs when performing vertebroplasty (80% of the time). The authors conclude that in patients with metastatic disease, vertebroplasty should be limited to those with short life expectancy.
3. Hartung, H., & Dihne, M. (2012). Volume Transmission-Mediated Encephalopathies: A Possible New Concept? Arch Neurology, 69(3), 315–321.
Interstitial fluid (ISF) surrounds the brain parenchymal compartment, so neuroactive substances in the CSF and ISF can influence neuronal activity. Impor- tant neuroactive substances are distributed to distant sites of the central nervous system by the convection and diffusion of CSF and ISF, a process the authors define as potentially causing “volume transmission-mediated encephalopathies”. While the authors focus on traumatic brain injury for this paper, many other entities might fall under the volume transmission umbrella.
4. Cheung, K. M. C., Samartzis, D., Karppinen, J., & Luk, K. D. K. (2012). Are “Patterns” of lumbar disc degeneration associated with low back pain?: New insights based on skipped level disc pathology. Spine, 37(7), E430–8.doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182304dfc
This MR and clinical study of 3099 Southern Chinese patients found that individuals with contiguous, multilevel disc degeneration (CMDD) presented overall with a significantly higher prevalence of LBP than individuals with skipped level disc degeneration (SLDD). Adjusted multivariate regression analysis indicated that individuals with CMDD had up to a 39% increased likelihood of having LBP compared with individuals with SLDD. Patients with a similar degree, but different patterns, of multilevel disc degeneration differ with respect to low back symptoms.
5. Than, K. D., Rahman, S. U., Vanaman, M. J., Wang, A. C., Lin, C.-Y., Zhang, H., La Marca, F., et al. (2012). Bone morphogenetic proteins and degenerative disk disease. Neurosurgery, 70(4), 996–1002. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e318235d65f
BMP’s have gotten bad press lately due not only their widespread off label use, but also the variety of complications that they might cause. This paper focuses on the other side of the coin of BMP’s function, not osteogenesis, but that of chondrogenesis. This is a meta-analysis of the current literature for the potential role of BMP’s in the treatment of diskogenic back pain.
6. Han, S. J., & Sughrue, M. E. (2012). The Rise and Fall of “Biopsy and Radiate”: A History of Surgical Nihilism in Glioma Treatment. Neurosurgery Clinics of NA, 23, 207–214. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2012.02.002
You really must read this interesting defense of aggressive tumor resection, which is also a refutation of 1) the concept that aggressive surgery is ill advised, pointless, and harmful in patients with glioblastoma, and 2) that biopsy and radiation alone serves as an acceptable alternative to surgery.
7. Camara-quintana, J. Q., Nitta, R. T., & Li, G. (2012). Pathology: Commonly Monitored Glioblastoma Markers: EFGR, EGFRvIII, PTEN, and MGMT. Neurosurgery Clinics of NA, 23(2), 237–246. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2012.01.011
Much more information than you really want, but it serves as a very good reference for all those acronyms.
8. Jahangiri, A., & Aghi, M. K. (2012). Pseudoprogression and Treatment effect. Neurosurgery Clinics of NA, 23(2), 277–287. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2012.01.002
Very good general review of the underlying pathology of treatment effects and the role of imaging. This is must reading for your local journal club.
9. Lucas, J., & Zada, G. (2012). Radiology: Criteria for Determining Response to Treatment and Recurrence of High-Grade Gliomas. Neurosurgery Clinics of NA, 23(2), 269–276. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2012.01.006
Excellent review of the history of determining tumor response, as well as current guidelines, including the RANO group (Wen PY, Macdonald DR, Reardon DA, et al. Updated response assessment criteria for high-grade gliomas: Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology working group. J Clin Oncol 2010;28(11):1963–72.). This also is a must read.
10. Sweet, J. A., Feinberg, M. L., & Sherman, J. H. (2012). The Role of Avastin in the Management of Recurrent Glioblastoma. Neurosurgery Clinics of NA, 23(2), 331–341. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2012.02.001
Early MR studies generated excitement concerning the ability of Avastin to improve overall survival in patients with glioblastoma. As more information was accumulated, it became evident that although there was an increase in progression-free survival, there was no change in overall survival as compared with historical controls.
11. Wang, M., Bünger, C. E., Li, H., Wu, C., Høy, K., Niedermann, B., Helmig, P., et al. (2012). Predictive Value of Tokuhashi Scoring Systems in Spinal Metastases, focusing on various primary tumor groups: Evaluation of 448 patients in the Aarhus Spinal Metastases Database. Spine, 37(7), 573–82. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31822bd6b0
The life expectancy of patients with spinal metastases is a critical factor in selecting the most appropriate treatment modality. Tokuhashi et al formulated a prognostic scoring system with a total sum of 12 points (T12) for preoperative prediction of life expectancy in 1990 (Scoring system for the preoperative evaluation of metastatic spine tumor prognosis. Spine 1990; 15:1110–3) and revised it in 2005 to a total sum of 15 points (T15)(A revised scoring system for preoperative evaluation of metastatic spine tumor prognosis. Spine 2005; 30:2186–91). The authors evaluated the two scoring systems in 448 patients and found that the T12 and T15 scoring systems showed significant predictive value in predicting life expectancy, with the T15 being the best.
12. Wang, D. J. J., Alger, J. R., Qiao, J. X., Hao, Q., Hou, S., Fiaz, R., Gunther, M., et al. (2012). The Value of Arterial Spin-Labeled Perfusion Imaging in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Comparison With Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast-Enhanced MRI. Stroke, 1018–1024. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.631929
The authors evaluated ASL flow (4 minute acquisition) and DSC perfusion imaging in 26 patients with acute ischemic stroke and found that ASL cerebral blood flow and DSC perfusion maps provided largely consistent results in delineating hypoperfused brain regions.
13. Zaharchuk, G. (2012). Better Late than Never: The Long Journey for Noncontrast Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion Imaging in Acute Stroke. Stroke, 931–932. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.64434
Editorial that accompanies the Wang et al article. You’ll never go wrong just reading the editorial first.
14. Coutts, S. B., Modi, J., Patel, S. K., Demchuk, A. M., Goyal, M., & Hill, M. D. (2012). CT/CT Angiography and MRI Findings Predict Recurrent Stroke After Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke: Results of the Prospective CATCH Study. Stroke, doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.637421
Five hundred ten patients with consecutive transient ischemic attack and minor stroke underwent CT/CTA and subsequent MRI. The authors conclude that using CT/CTA to assess patients with TIA and minor stroke is a practical solution to assessment of these patients and has the potential to benefit many people worldwide. Adoption of CT/CTA into clinical practice for the assessment of patients with TIA and minor stroke identifies a high-risk group suitable for aggressive acute stroke prevention treatment.
