Spatial distribution of malignant transformation in patients with low-grade glioma

Background Malignant transformation represents the natural evolution of diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG). This is a catastrophic event, causing neurocognitive symptoms, intensified treatment and premature death. However, little is known concerning the spatial distribution of malignant transformation in patients with LGG. Materials and methods Patients histopathological diagnosed with LGG and subsequent radiological malignant transformation were identified from two different institutions. We evaluated the spatial distribution of malignant transformation with (1) visual inspection and (2) segmentations of longitudinal tumor volumes. In (1) a radiological transformation site < 2 cm from the tumor on preceding MRI was defined local transformation. In (2) overlap with pretreatment volume after importation into a common space was defined as local transformation. With a centroid model we explored if there were particular patterns of transformations within relevant subgroups. Results We included 43 patients in the clinical evaluation, and 36 patients had MRIs scans available for longitudinal segmentations. Prior to malignant transformation, residual radiological tumor volumes were > 10 ml in 93% of patients. The transformation site was considered local in 91% of patients by clinical assessment. Patients treated with radiotherapy prior to transformation had somewhat lower rate of local transformations (83%). Based upon the segmentations, the transformation was local in 92%. We did not observe any particular pattern of transformations in examined molecular subgroups. Conclusion Malignant transformation occurs locally and within the T2w hyperintensities in most patients. Although LGG is an infiltrating disease, this data conceptually strengthens the role of loco-regional treatments in patients with LGG.publishedVersio

Clinical Course in Chronic Subdural Hematoma Patients Aged 18–49 Compared to Patients 50 Years and Above: A Multicenter Study and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH) is primarily a disease of elderly, and is rare in patients &lt;50 years, and this may in part be related to the increased brain atrophy from 50 years of age. This fact may also influence clinical presentation and outcome. The aim of this study was to study the clinical course with emphasis on clinical presentation of cSDH patients in the young (&lt;50 years).Methods: A retrospective review of a population-based cohort of 1,252 patients operated for cSDH from three Scandinavian neurosurgical centers was conducted. The primary end-point was difference in clinical presentation between the patients &lt;50 y/o and the remaining patients (≥50 y/o group). The secondary end-points were differences in perioperative morbidity, recurrence and mortality between the two groups. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed comparing clinical patterns of cSDH in the two age groups.Results: Fifty-two patients (4.2%) were younger than 50 years. Younger patients were more likely to present with headache (86.5% vs. 37.9%, p &lt; 0.001) and vomiting (25% vs. 5.2%, p &lt; 0.001) than the patients ≥50 y/o, while the ≥50 y/o group more often presented with limb weakness (17.3% vs. 44.8%, p &lt; 0.001), speech impairment (5.8% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.001) and gait disturbance or falls (23.1% vs. 50.7%, p &lt; 0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in recurrence, overall complication rate and mortality within 90 days. Our meta-analysis confirmed that younger patients are more likely to present with headache (p = 0.015) while the hemispheric symptoms are more likely in patients ≥50 y/o (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: Younger patients with cSDH present more often with signs of increased intracranial pressure, while those ≥50 y/o more often present with hemispheric symptoms. No difference exists between the two groups in terms of recurrence, morbidity, and short-term mortality. Knowledge of variations in clinical presentation is important for correct and timely diagnosis in younger cSDH patients

Being Penny-Wise and Pound-Foolosh - Waste in the Norwegian Healthcare System

Masteroppgave i helseledelse (EMBA) - Nord universitet 202

Clinical Course in Chronic Subdural Hematoma Patients Aged 18–49 Compared to Patients 50 Years and Above: A Multicenter Study and Meta-Analysis

Objective - Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH) is primarily a disease of elderly, and is rare in patients <50 years, and this may in part be related to the increased brain atrophy from 50 years of age. This fact may also influence clinical presentation and outcome. The aim of this study was to study the clinical course with emphasis on clinical presentation of cSDH patients in the young (<50 years). Methods - A retrospective review of a population-based cohort of 1,252 patients operated for cSDH from three Scandinavian neurosurgical centers was conducted. The primary end-point was difference in clinical presentation between the patients <50 y/o and the remaining patients (≥50 y/o group). The secondary end-points were differences in perioperative morbidity, recurrence and mortality between the two groups. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed comparing clinical patterns of cSDH in the two age groups. Results - Fifty-two patients (4.2%) were younger than 50 years. Younger patients were more likely to present with headache (86.5% vs. 37.9%, p p p p = 0.001) and gait disturbance or falls (23.1% vs. 50.7%, p p = 0.015) while the hemispheric symptoms are more likely in patients ≥50 y/o (p < 0.001). Conclusion - Younger patients with cSDH present more often with signs of increased intracranial pressure, while those ≥50 y/o more often present with hemispheric symptoms. No difference exists between the two groups in terms of recurrence, morbidity, and short-term mortality. Knowledge of variations in clinical presentation is important for correct and timely diagnosis in younger cSDH patients

Clinical Course in Chronic Subdural Hematoma Patients Aged 18–49 Compared to Patients 50 Years and Above: A Multicenter Study and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH) is primarily a disease of elderly, and is rare in patients <50 years, and this may in part be related to the increased brain atrophy from 50 years of age. This fact may also influence clinical presentation and outcome. The aim of this study was to study the clinical course with emphasis on clinical presentation of cSDH patients in the young (<50 years). Methods: A retrospective review of a population-based cohort of 1,252 patients operated for cSDH from three Scandinavian neurosurgical centers was conducted. The primary end-point was difference in clinical presentation between the patients <50 y/o and the remaining patients (≥50 y/o group). The secondary end-points were differences in perioperative morbidity, recurrence and mortality between the two groups. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed comparing clinical patterns of cSDH in the two age groups. Results: Fifty-two patients (4.2%) were younger than 50 years. Younger patients were more likely to present with headache (86.5% vs. 37.9%, p < 0.001) and vomiting (25% vs. 5.2%, p < 0.001) than the patients ≥50 y/o, while the ≥50 y/o group more often presented with limb weakness (17.3% vs. 44.8%, p < 0.001), speech impairment (5.8% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.001) and gait disturbance or falls (23.1% vs. 50.7%, p < 0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in recurrence, overall complication rate and mortality within 90 days. Our meta-analysis confirmed that younger patients are more likely to present with headache (p = 0.015) while the hemispheric symptoms are more likely in patients ≥50 y/o (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Younger patients with cSDH present more often with signs of increased intracranial pressure, while those ≥50 y/o more often present with hemispheric symptoms. No difference exists between the two groups in terms of recurrence, morbidity, and short-term mortality. Knowledge of variations in clinical presentation is important for correct and timely diagnosis in younger cSDH patients

Is the anatomical distribution of low-grade gliomas linked to regions of gliogenesis?

Introduction According to the stem cell theory, two neurogenic niches in the adult human brain may harbor cells that initiate the formation of gliomas: The larger subventricular zone (SVZ) and the subgranular zone (SGZ) in the hippocampus. We wanted to explore whether defining molecular markers in low-grade gliomas (LGG; WHO grade II) are related to distance to the neurogenic niches. Methods Patients treated at two Norwegian university hospitals with population-based referral were included. Eligible patients had histopathological verified supratentorial low-grade glioma. IDH mutational status and 1p19q co-deletion status was retrospectively assessed. 159 patients were included, and semi-automatic tumor segmentation was done from pre-treatment T2-weighted (T2W) or Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) images. 3D maps showing the anatomical distribution of the tumors were then created for each of the three molecular subtypes (IDH mutated/1p19q co-deleted, IDH mutated and IDH wild-type). Both distance from tumor center and tumor border to the neurogenic niches were recorded. Results In this population-based cohort of previously untreated low-grade gliomas, we found that low-grade gliomas are more often found closer to the SVZ than the SGZ, but IDH wild-type tumors are more often found near SGZ. Conclusion Our study suggests that the stem cell origin of IDH wild-type and IDH mutated low-grade gliomas may be different

Spatial distribution of malignant transformation in patients with low-grade glioma

Background Malignant transformation represents the natural evolution of diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGG). This is a catastrophic event, causing neurocognitive symptoms, intensified treatment and premature death. However, little is known concerning the spatial distribution of malignant transformation in patients with LGG. Materials and methods Patients histopathological diagnosed with LGG and subsequent radiological malignant transformation were identified from two different institutions. We evaluated the spatial distribution of malignant transformation with (1) visual inspection and (2) segmentations of longitudinal tumor volumes. In (1) a radiological transformation site < 2 cm from the tumor on preceding MRI was defined local transformation. In (2) overlap with pretreatment volume after importation into a common space was defined as local transformation. With a centroid model we explored if there were particular patterns of transformations within relevant subgroups. Results We included 43 patients in the clinical evaluation, and 36 patients had MRIs scans available for longitudinal segmentations. Prior to malignant transformation, residual radiological tumor volumes were > 10 ml in 93% of patients. The transformation site was considered local in 91% of patients by clinical assessment. Patients treated with radiotherapy prior to transformation had somewhat lower rate of local transformations (83%). Based upon the segmentations, the transformation was local in 92%. We did not observe any particular pattern of transformations in examined molecular subgroups. Conclusion Malignant transformation occurs locally and within the T2w hyperintensities in most patients. Although LGG is an infiltrating disease, this data conceptually strengthens the role of loco-regional treatments in patients with LGG