Surgery as a safe and effective treatment option for spheno-orbital meningioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical techniques and outcomes

Purpose The effectiveness and safety of surgery for spheno-orbital meningiomas remains subject of debate, as studies often describe different surgical approaches and reconstruction techniques with very heterogeneous outcomes. We aimed to systematically summarize and analyse the literature on spheno-orbital meningiomas regarding presenting symptoms, surgical techniques, outcomes and complications. Methods Studies were retrieved from eight databases. Original articles were included if in >= 5 patients presenting symptoms, surgical treatment and outcomes were described. Fixed- and random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate weighted percentages with 95%CIs of presenting symptoms, outcomes and complications. Results Thirty-eight articles were included describing 1486 patients. Proptosis was the most common presenting symptom (84%; 95%CI 76-91%), followed by unilateral visual acuity deficits (46%; 95%CI 40-51%) and visual field deficits (31%; 95%CI 20-43%). In 35/38 studies (92%), a pterional craniotomy was used. Decompression of the optic canal (82%) and the superior orbital fissure (66%) was most often performed, and usually dural (47%) and bony defects (76%) were reconstructed. In almost all patients, visual acuity (91%; 95%CI 86-96%), visual fields (87%; 95%CI 70-99%) and proptosis (96%; 95%CI 90-100%) improved. Furthermore, surgery showed improvement in 96% (95%CI 78-100%) for both diplopia and ophthalmoplegia. The most common surgical complications were hypesthesia (19%; 95%CI 10-30%), ptosis and diplopia (both 17%; 95%CI, respectively, 10-26% and 5-33%) and ophthalmoplegia (16%; 95%CI 10-24). Conclusion Patients with spheno-orbital meningioma usually present with proptosis or unilateral decreased visual acuity. Surgery shows to be effective in improving visual acuity and visual field deficits with mostly minor and well-tolerated complications.Ophthalmic researc

Improvement in symptoms and health-related quality of life in acromegaly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Whereas biochemical response is often used as a primary study outcome, improvement in symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is the relevant goal for patients to consider treatment successful. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of treatment on symptoms and HRQoL in acromegaly.Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched for longitudinal studies assessing patient-reported symptoms or HRQoL in acromegaly. Meta-analyses were performed to assess differences during treatment for the Acromegaly Quality of Life Questionnaire (AcroQoL) and Patient-Assessed Acromegaly Symptom Questionnaire (PASQ), and standardized mean difference (SMD) for individual symptoms (interpretation: 0.2 small, 0.5 moderate, and 0.8 large effect). Treatment-naive and previously treated patients were assessed separately.Results: Forty-six studies with 3301 patients were included; 24 contributed to quantitative analyses. Thirty-six studies used medication as main treatment, 1 transsphenoidal adenomectomy, and 9 various treatments. Symptoms and HRQoL both improved: AcroQoL increased 2.9 points (95% CI, 0.5 to 5.3 points), PASQ decreased -2.3 points (95% CI, -1.3 to -3.3 points), and individual symptom scores decreased for paresthesia -0.9 (95% CI, -0.6 to -1.2), hyperhidrosis -0.4 (95% CI, -0.1 to -0.6), fatigue -0.3 (95% CI, -0.1 to -0.6), arthralgia -0.3 (95% CI, -0.1 to -0.5), headache -0.3 (95% CI, 0.0 to -0.6), and soft-tissue swelling -0.2 (95% CI, 0.0 to -0.4).Conclusion: Symptoms and HRQoL improved during acromegaly treatment. Consensus is needed on which symptoms should be included in a potential core outcome set, taking into account symptom frequency, severity, and sensitivity to change, which can be used in clinical practice and as outcome in trials.Clinical epidemiolog

The impact of new evidence on regional variation in paediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: a historical review

BackgroundTonsillectomy and adenoidectomy have been among the most commonly performed procedures in children for approximately 100 years. These procedures were the first for which unwarranted regional variation was discovered, in 1938. Indications for these procedures have become stricter over time, which might have reduced regional practice variation.MethodsThis paper presents a historical review on practice variation in paediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy rates. Data on publication year, region, level of variation, methodology and outcomes were collected.ResultsTwenty-one articles on practice variation in paediatric tonsil surgery were included, with data from 12 different countries. Significant variation was found throughout the years, although a greater than 10-fold variation was observed only in the earliest publications.ConclusionNo evidence has yet been found that better indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy have reduced practice variation. International efforts are needed to reconsider why we are still unable to tackle this variation.Otorhinolaryngolog

The endoscope-assisted supraorbital "keyhole" approach for anterior skull base meningiomas: an updated meta-analysis

Introduction The gold-standard treatment for symptomatic anterior skull base meningiomas is surgical resection. The endoscope-assisted supraorbital "keyhole" approach (eSKA) is a promising technique for surgical resection of olfactory groove (OGM) and tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM) but has yet to be compared with the microscopic transcranial (mTCA) and the expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) in the context of existing literature. Methods An updated study-level meta-analysis on surgical outcomes and complications of OGM and TSM operated with the eSKA, mTCA, and EEA was conducted using random-effect models. Results A total of 2285 articles were screened, yielding 96 studies (2191 TSM and 1510 OGM patients). In terms of effectiveness, gross total resection incidence was highest in mTCA (89.6% TSM, 91.1% OGM), followed by eSKA (85.2% TSM, 84.9% OGM) and EEA (83.9% TSM, 82.8% OGM). Additionally, the EEA group had the highest incidence of visual improvement (81.9% TSM, 54.6% OGM), followed by eSKA (65.9% TSM, 52.9% OGM) and mTCA (63.9% TSM, 45.7% OGM). However, in terms of safety, the EEA possessed the highest cerebrospinal fluid leak incidence (9.2% TSM, 14.5% OGM), compared with eSKA (2.1% TSM, 1.6% OGM) and mTCA (1.6% TSM, 6.5% OGM). Finally, mortality and intraoperative arterial injury were 1% or lower across all subgroups. Conclusions In the context of diverse study populations, the eSKA appeared not to be associated with increased adverse outcomes when compared with mTCA and EEA and offered comparable effectiveness. Case-selection is paramount in establishing a role for the eSKA in anterior skull base tumours.Scientific Assessment and Innovation in Neurosurgical Treatment Strategie

Determinants and predictors for the long-term disease burden of intracranial meningioma patients

Introduction Meningioma is a heterogeneous disease and patients may suffer from long-term tumor- and treatment-related sequelae. To help identify patients at risk for these late effects, we first assessed variables associated with impaired long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and impaired neurocognitive function on group level (i.e. determinants). Next, prediction models were developed to predict the risk for long-term neurocognitive or HRQoL impairment on individual patient-level. Methods Secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study with intracranial WHO grade I/II meningioma patients, in which HRQoL (Short-Form 36) and neurocognitive functioning (standardized test battery) were assessed. Multivariable regression models were used to assess determinants for these outcomes corrected for confounders, and to build prediction models, evaluated with C-statistics. Results Data from 190 patients were analyzed (median 9 years after intervention). Main determinants for poor HRQoL or impaired neurocognitive function were patients' sociodemographic characteristics, surgical complications, reoperation, radiotherapy, presence of edema, and a larger tumor diameter on last MRI. Prediction models with a moderate/good ability to discriminate between individual patients with and without impaired HRQoL (C-statistic 0.73, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.81) and neurocognitive function (C-statistic 0.78, 95%CI 0.70 to 0.85) were built. Not all predictors (e.g. tumor location) within these models were also determinants. Conclusions The identified determinants help clinicians to better understand long-term meningioma disease burden. Prediction models can help early identification of individual patients at risk for long-term neurocognitive or HRQoL impairment, facilitating tailored provision of information and allocation of scarce supportive care services to those most likely to benefit.Neurolog

Regional and hospital variation in commonly performed paediatric otolaryngology procedures in the Netherlands: a population-based study of healthcare utilisation between 2016 and 2019

Objective In the past few decades, there has been an increase in high-quality studies providing evidence on the effectiveness of commonly performed procedures in paediatric otolaryngology. We believe that now is the time to re-evaluate the care process. We aimed to analyse (1) the regional variation in incidence and referrals of adenoidectomies, tonsillectomies and ventilation tube insertions in children in the Netherlands between 2016 and 2019, (2) whether regional surgical rates, referral rates and in-hospital surgical rates were associated with one another, and (3) the hospital variation in healthcare costs, which indicates the utilisation of resources. Design Repeated cross-sectional analysis. Setting Four neighbouring Dutch provinces comprising 2.8 million inhabitants and 14 hospitals. Participants Children aged 0-15 years. Outcome measures We analysed variation in regional surgical rates and referral rates per 1000 inhabitants and in-hospital surgical rates per 1000 clinic visitors, adjusted for age and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, the relationships between referral rates, regional surgical rates and in-hospital surgical rates were estimated. Lastly, variation in resource utilisation between hospitals was estimated. Results Adenoidectomy rates differed sixfold between regions. Twofold differences were observed for adenotonsillectomy rates, ventilation tube insertion rates and referral rates. Referral rates were negatively associated with in-hospital surgical rates for adenotonsillectomies, but not for adenoidectomies and ventilation tube insertions. In-hospital surgical rates were positively associated with regional rates for adenoidectomies and adenotonsillectomies. Significant variation between hospitals was observed in costs for all resources. Conclusions We observed low variation in tonsillectomies and ventilation tube insertion and high variation in adenoidectomies. Indications for a tonsillectomy and ventilation tube insertion are well defined in Dutch guidelines, whereas this is not the case for an adenoidectomy. Lack of agreement on indications can be expected and high-quality effectiveness research is required to improve evidence-based guidelines on this topic.Analysis and support of clinical decision makin

Preoperative risk factors for postoperative complications in endoscopic pituitary surgery: a systematic review

Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

State of the art of patient-reported outcomes in acromegaly or GH deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Metabolic health: pathophysiological trajectories and therap

Long-term disease burden and survivorship issues after surgery and radiotherapy of intracranial meningioma patients

BACKGROUND: Many intracranial meningioma patients have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and neurocognitive functioning up to 4 yr after intervention.OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term (>= 5 yr) disease burden of meningioma patients.METHODS: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, patients >= 5 yr after intervention (including active magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surveillance) were included and assessed for HRQoL (Short-Form Health Survey 36), neurocognitive functioning (neuropsychological assessment), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and work productivity (Short Form-Health and Labour Questionnaire). Multivariable and propensity score regression analyses were used to compare patients and controls, and different treatment strategies corrected for possible confounders. Clinically relevant differences were reported.RESULTS: At amedian of 9 yr follow-up after intervention, meningioma patients (n = 190) reported more limitations due to physical (difference 12.5 points, P = .008) and emotional (13.3 points, P = .002) health problems compared with controls. Patients also had an increased risk to suffer from anxiety (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.2-5.7) and depression (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.3-10.5). Neurocognitive deficits were found in 43% of patients. Although postoperative complications, radiotherapy, and reresection were associated with worse verbal memory, attention, and executive functioning when compared to patients resected once, the only clinically relevant association was between reresection and worse attention (-2.11, 95% CI: -3.52 to -0.07). Patients of working age less often had a paid job (48%) compared with the working-age Dutch population (72%) and reported more obstacles at work compared with controls.CONCLUSION: In the long term, a large proportion of meningioma patients have impaired HRQoL, neurocognitive deficits, and high levels of anxiety or depression. Patients treated with 1 resection have the best neurocognitive functioning.Neurolog

The endoscopic endonasal approach is not superior to the microscopic transcranial approach for anterior skull base meningiomas-a meta-analysis

Scientific Assessment and Innovation in Neurosurgical Treatment Strategie