Co-Planar Stereotaxic Atlas of the Human Brain—3-Dimensional Proportional System: An Approach to Cerebral Imaging, J. Talairach, P. Tournoux. Georg Thieme Verlag, New York (1988), 122 pp., 130 figs. DM 268

I have developed "tennis elbow" from lugging this book around the past four weeks, but it is worth the pain, the effort, and the aspirin. It is also worth the (relatively speaking) bargain price. Including appendixes, this book contains 894 pages of text. The entire panorama of the neural sciences is surveyed and examined, and it is comprehensive in its scope, from genomes to social behaviors. The editors explicitly state that the book is designed as "an introductory text for students of biology, behavior, and medicine," but it is hard to imagine any audience, interested in any fragment of neuroscience at any level of sophistication, that would not enjoy this book. The editors have done a masterful job of weaving together the biologic, the behavioral, and the clinical sciences into a single tapestry in which everyone from the molecular biologist to the practicing psychiatrist can find and appreciate his or

Principles of Neural Science

Approximately 5% of patients with malignant gliomas have a family history of gliomas. Some of these familial cases are associated with rare genetic syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, the Li−Fraumeni syndrome (germ-line p53 mutations associated with an increased risk of several cancers), and Turcot’s syndrome (intestinal polyposis and brain tumors). 10 However, most familial cases have

Malignant Gliomas in Adults

Summary Background 5-aminolevulinic acid is a non-fluorescent prodrug that leads to intracellular accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins in malignant gliomas—a finding that is under investigation for intraoperative identification and resection of these tumours. We aimed to assess the effect of fluorescence-guided resection with 5-aminolevulinic acid on surgical radicality, progression-free survival, overall survival, and morbidity. Methods 322 patients aged 23–73 years with suspected malignant glioma amenable to complete resection of contrast-enhancing tumour were randomly assigned to 20 mg/kg bodyweight 5-aminolevulinic acid for fluorescence-guided resection (n=161) or to conventional microsurgery with white light (n=161). The primary endpoints were the number of patients without contrast-enhancing tumour on early MRI (ie, that obtained within 72 h after surgery) and 6-month progression-free survival as assessed by MRI. Secondary endpoints were volume of residual tumour on postoperative MRI, overall survival, neurological deficit, and toxic effects. We report the results of an interim analysis with 270 patients in the full-analysis population (139 assigned 5-aminolevulinic acid, 131 assigned white light), which excluded patients with ineligible histological and radiological findings as assessed by central reviewers who were masked as to treatment allocation; the interim analysis resulted in termination of the study as defined by the protocol. Primary and secondary endpoints were analysed by intention to treat in the full-analysis population. The study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00241670. Findings Median follow-up was 35·4 months (95% CI 1·0–56·7). Contrast-enhancing tumour was resected completely in 90 (65%) of 139 patients assigned 5-aminolevulinic acid compared with 47 (36%) of 131 assigned white light (difference between groups 29% [95% CI 17–40], p vs 21·1% [14·0–28·2]; difference between groups 19·9% [9·1–30·7], p=0·0003, Z test). Groups did not differ in the frequency of severe adverse events or adverse events in any organ system class reported within 7 days after surgery. Interpretation Tumour fluorescence derived from 5-aminolevulinic acid enables more complete resections of contrast-enhancing tumour, leading to improved progression-free survival in patients with malignant glioma.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanonc/PIIS1470-2045(06)70665-9.pdf

Fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid for resection of malignant glioma: a randomised controlled multicentre phase III trial.

Background Concurrent treatment with temozolomide and radiotherapy followed by maintenance temozolomide is the standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor A, is currently approved for recurrent glioblastoma. Whether the addition of bevacizumab would improve survival among patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma is not known. Methods In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we treated adults who had centrally confirmed glioblastoma with radiotherapy (60 Gy) and daily temozolomide. Treatment with bevacizumab or placebo began during week 4 of radiotherapy and was continued for up to 12 cycles of maintenance chemotherapy. At disease progression, the assigned treatment was revealed, and bevacizumab therapy could be initiated or continued. The trial was designed to detect a 25% reduction in the risk of death and a 30% reduction in the risk of progression or death, the two coprimary ...

/pdf/a-randomized-trial-of-bevacizumab-for-newly-diagnosed-4lx9j0ojcy.pdf

A Randomized Trial of Bevacizumab for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

Background: despite the efforts of multiple stakeholders to promote appropriate care throughout the healthcare system, studies show that two out of three lower back pain (LBP) patients expect to receive imaging. We used the Choosing Wisely Canada patient-oriented framework, prioritizing patient engagement, to develop an intervention that addresses lower back pain imaging overuse. Methods: to develop this intervention, we collaborated with a multidisciplinary advisory team, including two patient partners with lower back pain, researchers, clinicians, healthcare administrators, and the Choosing Wisely Canada lead for Saskatchewan. For this qualitative study, data were collected through two advisory team meetings, two individual interviews with lower back pain patient partners, and three focus groups with lower back pain patient participants. A lower back pain prescription pad was developed as an outcome of these consultations. Results: participants reported a lack of interactive and informative communication was a significant barrier to receiving appropriate care. The most cited content information for inclusion in this intervention was treatments known to work, including physical activity, useful equipment, and reliable sources of educational material. Participants also suggested it was important that benefits and risks of imaging were explained on the pad. Three key themes derived from the data were also used to guide development of the intervention: (a) the role of imaging in LBP diagnosis; (b) the impact of the patient-physician relationship on LBP diagnosis and treatment; and (c) the lack of patient awareness of Choosing Wisely Canada and their recommendations. Conclusions: the lower back pain patient-developed prescription pad may help patients and clinicians engage in informed conversations and shared decision making that could support reduce unnecessary lower back pain imaging.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2786/pdf

Development of a Patient-Oriented Intervention to Support Patient-Provider Conversations about Unnecessary Lower Back Pain Imaging

The Effect of Tumor Neovasculature on Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Activation.

Neoplasms of the Paranasal Sinuses

The authors report a patient with recurrent lumbosacral myxopapillary ependymoma, followed for more than 20 years, who presented with severe axial pain resulting from osteolytic destruction at the lumbosacral junction. Because the patient had a long history of paraplegia despite three previous incomplete tumor resections, we chose not to attempt a fourth resection. Moreover, because viable fixation points were not present within the sacrum and most of the lumbar spine, instrumented fusion was extended from T7 to the ilia using a modified Galveston L-rod technique, which we believe to be unique in its application to this problem. This case demonstrates the long-term potential for instability from locally destructive myxopapillary ependymoma that is incompletely excised. We are not aware of any previous reports of lumbopelvic instability in association with myxopapillary ependymomas.

Thoracolumbopelvic stabilization for the treatment of instability caused by recurrent myxopapillary ependymoma.

The treatment of complex thoracolumbar disorders occasionally requires combined anterior and posterior approaches. Traditionally, these are either sequentially staged to occur during the same anesthesia procedure or alternatively performed on separate days. A less common option is the simultaneous anterior-posterior approach. The authors discuss the rationale for this approach in selected cases and illustrate a number of modifications to previous descriptions of the procedure. By slightly altering the incision, the risk of wound breakdown and infection has been reduced. The use of newly available positioning devices has allowed easy incorporation of fluoroscopy to guide the placement of spinal instrumentation. The authors have also expanded the use of the approach beyond the original oncological indications to include trauma and infection.

Daryl R. Fourney

Papers

Development of a Patient-Oriented Intervention to Support Patient-Provider Conversations about Unnecessary Lower Back Pain Imaging

The Effect of Tumor Neovasculature on Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Activation.

Neoplasms of the Paranasal Sinuses

Thoracolumbopelvic stabilization for the treatment of instability caused by recurrent myxopapillary ependymoma.

Refinements to the simultaneous anterior-posterior approach to the thoracolumbar spine.