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Continuous EMG recordings and intraoperative electrical stimulation for identification and protection of cervical nerve roots during foraminal tumor surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord function is now routinely monitored with somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) during surgery for intraspinal cervical dumbbell and foraminal tumors. However, upper extremity nerve roots are also at risk during these procedures. Anatomic relations are frequently difficult to interpret because the nerve roots may be displaced by the tumor. We used electrical stimulation with compound muscle action potential (CMAP) recordings at multiple sites to identify the location and course of the involved nerve root and to provide real-time information regarding the functional status of the roots to predict postoperative outcome. METHODS: Ten patients were monitored during surgery for cervical dumbbell or foraminal tumors. SEPs and MEPs were monitored as a routine procedure. CMAPs were recorded from needle electrodes placed in the deltoid, biceps, triceps, and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles. Spontaneous electromyography (EMG) muscle activity was also continuously monitored. A handheld monopolar stimulation electrode was used to elicit evoked EMG responses to identify and trace the course of nerves in relation to the tumor. In four patients, the stimulation threshold was tested before and after tumor resection to predict postoperative nerve root function. RESULTS: Electrical stimulation with CMAP recording was successful in localizing nerve roots during tumor resection in all 10 patients. Monitoring predicted postoperative nerve root preservation after tumor removal in each case. It was possible to identify either by using low-level stimulation (<2.0 V) or by observing changes in spontaneous EMG amplitude if activation was present during surgical dissection. The monitoring of spontaneous muscle activity in response to direct or indirect surgical manipulation during tumor resection also provided continuous assessment of nerve root function and identified any physiologic disturbance induced by surgical manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: Electrical stimulation in the operating field and recording of CMAPs facilitated nerve root identification and predicted postoperative function during dissection and separation from ligamentous or neoplastic tissue in 10 patients. Electrical stimulation might also be useful to predict postoperative preservation of function when nerve root sacrifice is necessary and no motor response is detected intraoperatively.

Action Potentials↗

Intraoperative electrophysiologic studies on the functions of nerve roots involved in cervical dumbbell-shaped schwannoma and their clinical utility.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to expect the degree of neurologic deficits after resection of involved nerve roots before and during the surgery for cervical dumbbell-shaped schwannoma. We present the results of studies for cervical nerve root functions in patients with cervical schwannoma using intraoperative electrophysiologic assessment and the potential of their clinical relevance is also discussed. OBJECTIVE: To present the utility of intraoperative electrophysiologic studies to detect the functions of the nerve roots involved in cervical schwannoma and adjacent nerve roots. METHODS: Five patients with dumbbell-shaped cervical schwannoma arising from the cervical nerve roots composing the brachial plexus were studied. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) after stimulation of nerve roots involved in the schwannoma were recorded from upper limb muscles anatomically correspond to their myotome. Adjacent nerve roots were also stimulated. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) after transcranial electric stimulation were also recorded during surgery. In 3 patients, sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) after digital nerve stimulation were also recorded from cervical nerve roots. RESULTS: In 4 patients, CMAPs after stimulation of cervical nerve roots involved with the schwannoma were not obtained or were very small compared with those obtained after stimulation of adjacent nerve roots. In 2 of 4 patients, SNAPs after digital nerve stimulation were recorded with small amplitude from the nerve roots involved in schwannoma. Minimal (n=2, within 80% attenuation of amplitude) or no changes (n=2) were observed after total resection of the schwannoma and no apparent motor weakness occurred in these 4 patients. In a patient with cervical schwannoma involved in C8 nerve root, CMAPs with large amplitude were recorded after stimulation of the C8 nerve root. SNAPs after stimulation of digit V were recorded with larger amplitude from the T1 root compared with those recorded from the C8 nerve root. Intradural parts of the tumor arising from C8 posterior rootlets were completely removed after transaction of posterior rootlets. During removal of intraforaminal parts of the tumor, motor evoked potentials were decreased over 50% of controls. Incomplete removal was chosen to avoid deterioration of motor function. Transient dysesthesia of digit V and slight weakness occurred after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The residual function of motor and sensory nerve roots involved with cervical schwannoma differed between individuals and could be detected using intraoperative electrophysiologic assessment.

Action Potentials↗

Radiotherapy for symptomatic metastases to bone in children.

Thirty-seven children less than age 19 years were treated from 1985 through 1998 with radiotherapy for symptomatic metastases to bone. The most common primary tumors were neuroblastoma (18), Ewing's sarcoma (5), and osteosarcoma (5). The interval from diagnosis of the primary tumor to treatment of the first symptomatic metastases involving bone ranged from 0 to 163 months (median 19). Thirty-seven children were treated with 150 courses of radiotherapy. Forty-three courses consisted of a single dose of 300 to 1,000 cGy. One hundred thirteen courses of radiotherapy consisted of five or fewer treatment fractions. Sixteen osseous sites were treated with two courses of radiotherapy and two sites were treated with three. The most commonly irradiated symptomatic bone sites were skull, spine, and hip/femurs. Survival from the first course of radiotherapy administered for metastases to bone varied from 1 to 52 months, with 11 patients (29.7%) surviving 12 or more months and only 3 patients (8.1%) surviving more than 2 years. The majority of children seemed to derive palliation from the radiotherapy based on assessment by family and medical personnel as well as by self-report in older patients. Children with symptomatic metastases to bone have an extremely poor prognosis, and short courses of radiotherapy are suggested as palliation. Repeat courses of radiotherapy can be given for persistent or recurrent symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Complete necrosis of a spinal giant cell tumor after vertebroplasty.

In this case report, histologic evidence of complete tumor necrosis subsequent to injection of polymethylmethacrylate in a vertebral giant cell tumor is described. Radiologic and histologic findings are discussed, and literature pertaining to vertebroplasty-induced cell damaged is reviewed.

Adult↗

Metastatic skeletal disease in the pediatric population.

We reviewed the autopsy, clinical, and radiographic records of 39 patients with metastatic skeletal disease (age range 18 months-20 years). There were 11 different primary tumors responsible for skeletal metastases, of which neuroblastoma was the most common (16 patients). Other commonly occurring tumors giving rise to secondary skeletal deposits were rhabdomyosarcoma (seven), teratoma-teratocarcinoma (four), and Wilms tumor (three). Overall patient survival ranged from 2 weeks to 72 months, with an average of 10.2 months. Those patients presenting without skeletal metastases at the time of diagnosis of the primary tumor had a survival time averaging 16.2 months (range 3-72 months), whereas those patients presenting initially with skeletal metastases at the time of diagnosis of the primary tumor had a survival time of 8.5 months (range 0.5-23 months).

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of angiogenesis by rhizoxin, a microbial metabolite containing two epoxide groups.

Previous studies by our and other groups have shown that microbial products containing more than one epoxide group, including eponemycin, radicicol, depudecin and AGM-1470, exhibits anti-angio-genic activity in an in vivo assay system involving chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of growing chick embryos. Based on these findings, rhizoxin, a microbial metabolite that contains two epoxide groups and exhibits anti-tubulin activity, was tested for anti-angiogenic activity in a CAM assay system. Rhizoxin caused dose-dependent inhibition of embryonic angiogenesis, the ID50 value being 2 ng (3.2 pmol) per egg. In addition, this compound (2 mg/kg i.p.) significantly suppressed neovascularization induced by M5076 mouse tumor cells in a mouse dorsal air sac assay system, compared to the vehicle alone (P < 0.05). These results indicate that rhizoxin is a novel inhibitor of angiogenesis, and that is has potential as a new therapeutic agent for cancer.

Animals↗

Reflections on notochordal differentiation arising from a study of chordomas.

This study of thirteen cases of chordoma serves to emphasize the occurrence of three different histological patterns; classical, seven; chondroid, three; and intermediate or mesenchymal, three. The study also suggests that more adequate sampling of these tumours detects the chondroid variant more readily. These varying patterns of differentiation in tumours of notochordal origin suggest that the parent tissue may have the potential to develop along similar lines in the embryo. Thus mesenchymal and cartilaginous tissue formed from notochordal cells could contribute to the formation of the nucleus pulposus and inner portion of the intervertebral disc cartilages. This concept contrasts with the previously held view that the notochord atrophies at an early stage in embryonic development.

Adult↗

Patterns of bone metastasis and their prognostic significance in patients with carcinoma of the prostate.

The different patterns of bone metastasis, metastatic load and their prognostic significance were examined in a consecutive series of 169 men with prostatic cancer and bone metastasis at presentation. Patients with an isolated metastasis in the pelvis or dorsal vertebrae had a better prognosis than those whose metastases were either diffuse or involved more distal sites such as the skull or the sternum, although all of these patients were classified as having M1 disease. Bone metastasis involving an area equivalent to 1 vertebral body equalled a metastatic load of 2. Based on their total metastatic load, 3 prognostic groups were identified with significant differences in case-specific survival despite receiving the same hormonal treatment. When comparing the potential efficacy of various treatments one must stratify the metastatic load, which is a powerful prognostic indicator of the outcome in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the back infiltrating the spine. Recurrent basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) recurrence appears to be related to tumor location, tumor size, treatment modality, radicalness of excision, and histologic type. Recurrences of BCC on the trunk and extremities are rare, with 97% of all recurrent lesions being located in the head and neck region. OBJECTIVE: This report concerns a man who had a BCC of the back removed with electrodesiccation and curettage in 1980 at the age of 36. In the following 10 years the patient experienced five recurrences and finally developed infiltration of the thoracic spine that precluded further attempts at radical excision of the neoplasm. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pathology of the BCC in our patient revealed a number of histologic features that have been associated with aggressive behaviour. These include an infiltrative growth pattern characterized by an irregular and acute tapered profile of the tumor cell groups and fibroblast-rich stroma, infiltrating invading tumour edges, poorly peripheral palisading, nuclear pleomorphism, and perineural invasion. CONCLUSION: Basal cell carcinomas that occur in sunlight-protected areas of the trunk of middle-aged individuals can occasionally exhibit aggressive and highly invasive features as well as a marked tendency for local uncontrollable recurrences. The prognosis for patients with this variety of BCC is poor, especially when progressive infiltration of deep tissues does not permit, as in our case, any possible further radical surgical procedure.

Back↗

Neuroendocrine differentiation of a metastatic basal cell carcinoma in a patient with basal cell nevus syndrome.

A 48 year-old white male with basal cell nevus syndrome presented with a metastatic basal cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine features. The tumor manifested aggressive behavior, having deep local invasion and metastases to para-aortic lymph nodes and bone. Neuroendocrine differentiation has rarely been associated with basal cell carcinoma. The histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic studies of this rare tumor are described.

Antineoplastic Agents↗