Neelan Joseph Marianayagam

All Publications

• Cervicomedullary cavernous malformation of the C1 nerve root: illustrative case. Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons Zhang, Y., Yuan, L., Marianayagam, N. J., Kumar, K. K., Fatemi, P., Park, D. J., Chang, S. D. 2024; 8 (5)

  Abstract

  Cavernous malformations (CMs) originating from spinal nerve roots are rare but can present with rapidly progressing neurological deficits. Therefore, quick identification and treatment are essential.The authors present the case of a 52-year-old male presenting with headaches and gait disturbance, found to have a CM of the C1 nerve root. The patient underwent successful suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy, with complete resection of the lesion, preservation of the cervical spinal nerve roots, and symptomatic improvement postoperatively.This is the first presentation in the literature of a CM originating from the C1 nerve root. The authors show complete resection of the lesion with preservation of the C1 nerve root. Nerve root lesions usually show insidious symptomatic onset. Quick identification and resection are recommended to prevent permanent neurological disability. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE2456.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/CASE2456

  View details for PubMedID 39074396

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Residual, Recurrent, and Metastatic Hemangiopericytomas: A Single-Institution Retrospective Experience. Neurosurgery Yoo, K. H., Park, D. J., Veeravagu, A., Persad, A., Lee, M., Marianayagam, N. J., Zamarud, A., Gu, X., Pollom, E. L., Soltys, S. G., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2024

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hemangiopericytomas are infrequent vascular tumors originating from Zimmermann pericytes. The conventional treatment involves gross total resection, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Nevertheless, their tendency to infiltrate dural sinuses, high vascularity, and anatomic complexity pose challenges for radical resection, leading to a significant risk of recurrence. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a promising adjuvant therapy to address these challenges. Our study provides the largest single-institutional retrospective, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of SRS as a treatment modality for residual, recurrent, and metastatic hemangiopericytomas.METHODS: From 1998 to 2023, 27 patients with 101 tumors underwent CyberKnife SRS at Stanford University Medical Center. The median age was 51 years at the time of treatment. The median follow-up period from SRS was 103 months (range: 6-250). All patients underwent upfront surgical resection. The median tumor volume was 1.5 cc. The median single-fraction equivalent dose was 19 Gy. The SRS was administered at the 76% of the median isodose line (range: 64-89).RESULTS: Of the 101 treated tumors, 24 (23.8%) progressed with a median time to recurrence of 30 months. At 10 years, the rates of local tumor control (LTC), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were 74.3%, 80.8%, and 67%, respectively. In patients with metastatic lesions, the LTC rates were significantly greater when compared with those with residual or recurrent tumors. There was no significant difference between patients with residual, recurrent, and metastatic hemangiopericytomas in OS and PFS. Notably, no cases of radiation-induced adverse events were detected.CONCLUSION: SRS leads to excellent LTC, PFS, and OS at 10 years with negligible risk for adverse events. Therefore, it is an effective and safe management modality for patients with residual, recurrent, and metastatic hemangiopericytomas.

  View details for DOI 10.1227/neu.0000000000003114

  View details for PubMedID 39028180

• The Role of CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Recurrent Cranial Medulloblastomas across Pediatric and Adult Populations. Journal of clinical medicine Yoo, K. H., Marianayagam, N. J., Park, D. J., Zamarud, A., Gu, X., Pollom, E., Soltys, S. G., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2024; 13 (12)

  Abstract

  Background/Objectives: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. In recent decades, the therapeutic landscape has undergone significant changes, with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) emerging as a promising treatment for recurrent cases. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the long-term efficacy and safety of SRS in recurrent medulloblastomas across both pediatric and adult patients at a single institution. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological records of patients who underwent CyberKnife SRS for recurrent cranial medulloblastomas at our institution between 1998 and 2023. Follow-up data were available for 15 medulloblastomas in 10 patients. The cohort comprised eight pediatric patients (ages 3-18) and two adult patients (ages 19-75). The median age at the time of SRS was 13 years, the median tumor volume accounted for 1.9 cc, the median biologically equivalent dose (BED) was 126 Gy, and the single-fraction equivalent dose (SFED) was 18 Gy. The SRS was administered at 75% of the median isodose line. Results: Following a median follow-up of 39 months (range: 6-78), 53.3% of the medulloblastomas progressed, 13.3% regressed, and 33.3% remained stable. The 3-year local tumor control (LTC) rate for all medulloblastomas was 65%, with lower rates observed in the adult cohort (50%) and higher rates in pediatric patients (67%). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 70%, with significantly higher rates in pediatric patients (75%) compared to adult patients (50%). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 58.3%, with higher rates in pediatric patients (60%) compared to adult patients (50%). Two pediatric patients developed radiation-induced edema, while two adult patients experienced radiation necrosis at the latest follow-up, with both adult patients passing away. Conclusions: Our study provides a complex perspective on the efficacy and safety of CyberKnife SRS in treating recurrent cranial medulloblastomas across pediatric and adult populations. The rarity of adverse radiation events (AREs) underscores the safety profile of SRS, reinforcing its role in enhancing treatment outcomes. The intricacies of symptomatic outcomes, intertwined with factors such as age, tumor location, and prior surgeries, emphasize the need for personalized treatment approaches. Our findings underscore the imperative for ongoing research and the development of more refined treatment strategies for recurrent medulloblastomas. Given the observed disparities in treatment outcomes, a more meticulous tailoring of treatment approaches becomes crucial.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/jcm13123592

  View details for PubMedID 38930121

• Impact of Supine versus Prone Positioning on Segmental Lumbar Lordosis in Patients Undergoing ALIF Followed by PSF: A Comparative Study. Journal of clinical medicine Sadeghzadeh, S., Yoo, K. H., Lopez, I., Johnstone, T., Schonfeld, E., Haider, G., Marianayagam, N. J., Stienen, M. N., Veeravagu, A. 2024; 13 (12)

  Abstract

  Background: Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and posterior spinal fusion (PSF) play pivotal roles in restoring lumbar lordosis in spinal surgery. There is an ongoing debate between combined single-position surgery and traditional prone-position PSF for optimizing segmental lumbar lordosis. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 59 patients who underwent ALIF in the supine position followed by PSF in the prone position at a single institution. Cobb angles were measured preoperatively, post-ALIF, and post-PSF using X-ray imaging. One-way repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc analyses with Bonferroni adjustment were employed to compare mean Cobb angles at different time points. Cohen's d effect sizes were calculated to assess the magnitude of changes. Sample size calculations were performed to ensure statistical power. Results: The mean segmental Cobb angle significantly increased from preoperative (32.2 ± 13.8 degrees) to post-ALIF (42.2 ± 14.3 degrees, Cohen's d: -0.71, p < 0.0001) and post-PSF (43.6 ± 14.6 degrees, Cohen's d: -0.80, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between Cobb angles after ALIF and after PSF (Cohen's d: -0.10, p = 0.14). The findings remained consistent when Cobb angles were analyzed separately for single-screw and double-screw ALIF constructs. Conclusions: Both supine ALIF and prone PSF significantly increased segmental lumbar lordosis compared to preoperative measurements. The negligible difference between post-ALIF and post-PSF lordosis suggests that supine ALIF followed by prone PSF can be an effective approach, providing flexibility in surgical positioning without compromising lordosis improvement.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/jcm13123555

  View details for PubMedID 38930084

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Ependymoma in Pediatric and Adult Patients: A Single-Institution Experience. Neurosurgery Yoo, K. H., Marianayagam, N. J., Park, D. J., Persad, A., Zamarud, A., Shaghaghian, E., Tayag, A., Ustrzynski, L., Emrich, S. C., Gu, X., Ho, Q. A., Soltys, S. G., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2024

  Abstract

  Ependymoma is commonly classified as World Health Organization grade 2 with the anaplastic variant categorized as grade 3. Incomplete resection or anaplastic features can result in unfavorable outcomes. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) provides a minimally invasive approach for recurrent ependymomas. Our study investigates the efficacy and safety of SRS for grade 2 and 3 ependymomas in pediatric and adult populations.We conducted a retrospective analysis on 34 patients with 75 ependymomas after CyberKnife SRS between 1998 and 2023. Fourteen were pediatric (3-18 years), and 20 were adult (19-75 years) patients. The median age was 21 years, and the median tumor volume was 0.64 cc. The median single-fraction equivalent dose was 16.6 Gy, with SRS administered at 77% of the median isodose line.After a median follow-up of 42.7 months (range: 3.8-438.3), 22.7% of ependymomas progressed. The 5-year local tumor control rate was 78.1%, varying between 59.6% and 90.2% for children and adults, with grade 2 at 85.9% compared with 58.5% for grade 3 tumors. The 5-year overall survival rate was 73.6%, notably higher in adults (94.7%) than in children (41%), and 100% for grade 2 but decreased to 35.9% for grade 3 patients. The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 68.5%, with 78.3% and 49.2% for adults and children, respectively, and a favorable 88.8% for grade 2, contrasting with 32.6% for grade 3 patients. Symptom improvement was observed in 85.3% of patients. Adverse radiation effects occurred in 21.4% of pediatric patients.Our study supports SRS as a viable modality for pediatric and adult patients with grade 2 and 3 ependymomas. Despite lower local tumor control in pediatric and grade 3 cases, integrating SRS holds promise for improved outcomes. Emphasizing careful patient selection, personalized treatment planning, and long-term follow-up is crucial for optimal neurosurgical outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.1227/neu.0000000000002979

  View details for PubMedID 38785440

• CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery for extramedullary plasmacytoma in the external auditory canal: illustrative case. Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons Patil, S., Shaghaghian, E., Yuan, L., Shah, A., Marianayagam, N. J., Park, D. J., Soltys, S. G., Veeravagu, A., Gibbs, I. C., Li, G., Chang, S. D. 2024; 7 (19)

  Abstract

  Plasmacytoma, a rare plasma cell disorder, often presents as a solitary or multiple tumors within the bone marrow or soft tissues, typically associated with multiple myeloma. Extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMPs), particularly those located in the external auditory canal (EAC), are exceedingly rare and pose significant treatment challenges given their location, anatomical complexity, and high risk of recurrence.The authors report the case of a 72-year-old male with a history of multiple myeloma, presenting with recurrent left EAC plasmacytoma. After initial conventional radiotherapy for the lesion, a recurrence was documented in 7 years. The patient subsequently underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, which proved successful, leading to complete resolution of the lesion without any long-term adverse effects or radiation-related complications over a 45-month period.This case is a unique instance of utilizing stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent EMP in the EAC, highlighting its potential as an effective approach in managing complex plasmacytomas.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/CASE2479

  View details for PubMedID 38710109

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11076403

• Treatment of Refractory Bipolar Depression With Stereotactic Radiosurgery Targeting the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE Solvason, H. B., Marianayagam, N. J., Soltys, S. G., Schatzberg, A. F., Debattista, C., Ketter, T., Wang, P., Chang, S. D., Spiegel, D., Adler, J. R. 2024; 16 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.57904

  View details for Web of Science ID 001209664200022

• Treatment of Refractory Bipolar Depression With Stereotactic Radiosurgery Targeting the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex. Cureus Solvason, H. B., Marianayagam, N. J., Soltys, S. G., Schatzberg, A. F., DeBattista, C., Ketter, T., Wang, P., Chang, S. D., Spiegel, D., Adler, J. R. 2024; 16 (4): e57904

  Abstract

  Background The subgenual cingulate cortex (SGC) has been identified as a key structure within multiple neural circuits whose dysfunction is implicated in the neurobiology of depression. Deep brain stimulation in the SGC is thought to reduce and normalize local metabolism, causing normalization of circuit behavior and an improvement in depressive symptoms. We hypothesized that nonablative stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the SGC would reduce local metabolism and reduce the severity of depression in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Methods Under the FDA's Humanitarian Device Exemption program, patients were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three volunteers meeting the criteria provided informed consent. Bilateral SGC targets were irradiated to a maximum dose of 75 Gy in one fraction. Subjects were followed for one year following the procedure with mood assessments (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement, Clinical Global Impression-Severity, and Young Mania Rating Scale), neurocognitive testing (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III digit span, and California Verbal Learning Test II), and imaging. Further imaging was completed approximately two years after the procedure. Clinical improvement was defined as a ≥50% reduction in HDRS. Results Two of the three subjects showed clinical improvement in depressive symptoms during the follow-up period, while one subject showed no change in symptom severity. One of three subjects was hospitalized for the emergence of an episode of psychotic mania after discontinuing antipsychotic medications against medical advice but promptly recovered with the reinstitution of an antipsychotic. Sequential assessments did not reveal impairment in any cognitive domain assessed. For one of the three subjects, MRI imaging showed evidence of edema at 12 months post-SRS, which resolved at 22 months post-procedure. In a second of three patients, there was evidence of local edema at the target site at long-term follow-up. All imaging changes were asymptomatic. Conclusion Radiosurgical targeting of the SGC may be a noninvasive strategy for the reduction of severe depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. Two out of three patients showed clinical improvement. While these results are promising, further study, including improvements in target selection and dosing considerations, is needed.

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.57904

  View details for PubMedID 38725772

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11079710

• Dosimetric Comparison of Dedicated Radiosurgery Platforms for the Treatment of Essential Tremor: Technical Report. Cureus Marianayagam, N. J., Paddick, I., Persad, A. R., Hori, Y. S., Maslowski, A., Thirunarayanan, I., Khanna, A. R., Park, D. J., Buch, V., Chang, S. D., Schneider, M. B., Yu, H., Weidlich, G. A., Adler, J. R. 2024; 16 (4): e57452

  Abstract

  Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common adult movement disorders. As the worldwide population ages, the incidence and prevalence of ET is increasing. Although most cases can be managed conservatively, there is a subset of ET that is refractory to medical management. By virtue of being "reversible", deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus is one commonly accepted intervention. As an alternative to invasive and expensive DBS, there has been a renaissance in treating ET with lesion-based approaches, spearheaded most recently by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), the hallmark of which is that it is non-invasive. Meanwhile, stereotactic radiosurgical (SRS) lesioning of VIM represents another time-honored lesion-based non-invasive treatment of ET, which is especially well suited for those patients that cannot tolerate open neurosurgery and is now also getting a "second look". While multiple SRS platforms have been and continue to be used to treat ET, there is little in the way of dosimetric comparison between different technologies. In this brief technical report we compare the dosimetric profiles of three major radiosurgical platforms (Gamma Knife, CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery, and Zap-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery (GRS)) for the treatment of ET. In general, the GRS and Gamma Knife were shown to have the best theoretical dosimetric profiles for VIM lesioning. Nevertheless the relevance of such superiority to clinical outcomes requires future patient studies.

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.57452

  View details for PubMedID 38699125

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11064878

• Misplaced intraspinal venous stent causing cauda equina syndrome: illustrative case. Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons Shah, V., Johnstone, T., Haider, G., Marianayagam, N. J., Stienen, M. N., Chandra, V., Veeravagu, A. 2024; 7 (7)

  Abstract

  Endovenous stents for deep venous thrombosis treatment can be unintentionally placed in the spinal canal, resulting in neurological deficit.The authors report the case of a patient presenting to our institution with intraspinal misplacement of an endovenous stent, resulting in cauda equina syndrome. The authors also performed a systematic literature review, evaluating the few previously reported cases. This review was performed according to the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. In four of five cases describing stent misplacement into the spinal canal, the authors report that only anteroposterior monoplanar imaging modalities were utilized for venous localization and stent deployment. The anteroposterior plane cannot assess the relative depth of structures, nor can it distinguish between superimposed structures well. Therefore, the use of biplanar imaging should at least be considered before stent deployment, as intraspinal stent placement can lead to disastrous consequences.This report should serve as an impetus for the use of biplanar or three-dimensional imaging modalities for iliac venous stent placement. Additionally, this work should increase spine surgeons' awareness about management and operative techniques when faced with this complication.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/CASE23482

  View details for PubMedID 38346298

• Evaluating Computer Vision, Large Language, and Genome-Wide Association Models in a Limited Sized Patient Cohort for Pre-Operative Risk Stratification in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Journal of clinical medicine Schonfeld, E., Pant, A., Shah, A., Sadeghzadeh, S., Pangal, D., Rodrigues, A., Yoo, K., Marianayagam, N., Haider, G., Veeravagu, A. 2024; 13 (3)

  Abstract

  Background: Adult spinal deformities (ASD) are varied spinal abnormalities, often necessitating surgical intervention when associated with pain, worsening deformity, or worsening function. Predicting post-operative complications and revision surgery is critical for surgical planning and patient counseling. Due to the relatively small number of cases of ASD surgery, machine learning applications have been limited to traditional models (e.g., logistic regression or standard neural networks) and coarse clinical variables. We present the novel application of advanced models (CNN, LLM, GWAS) using complex data types (radiographs, clinical notes, genomics) for ASD outcome prediction. Methods: We developed a CNN trained on 209 ASD patients (1549 radiographs) from the Stanford Research Repository, a CNN pre-trained on VinDr-SpineXR (10,468 spine radiographs), and an LLM using free-text clinical notes from the same 209 patients, trained via Gatortron. Additionally, we conducted a GWAS using the UK Biobank, contrasting 540 surgical ASD patients with 7355 non-surgical ASD patients. Results: The LLM notably outperformed the CNN in predicting pulmonary complications (F1: 0.545 vs. 0.2881), neurological complications (F1: 0.250 vs. 0.224), and sepsis (F1: 0.382 vs. 0.132). The pre-trained CNN showed improved sepsis prediction (AUC: 0.638 vs. 0.534) but reduced performance for neurological complication prediction (AUC: 0.545 vs. 0.619). The LLM demonstrated high specificity (0.946) and positive predictive value (0.467) for neurological complications. The GWAS identified 21 significant (p < 10-5) SNPs associated with ASD surgery risk (OR: mean: 3.17, SD: 1.92, median: 2.78), with the highest odds ratio (8.06) for the LDB2 gene, which is implicated in ectoderm differentiation. Conclusions: This study exemplifies the innovative application of cutting-edge models to forecast outcomes in ASD, underscoring the utility of complex data in outcome prediction for neurosurgical conditions. It demonstrates the promise of genetic models when identifying surgical risks and supports the integration of complex machine learning tools for informed surgical decision-making in ASD.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/jcm13030656

  View details for PubMedID 38337352

• Machine Learning in Neurosurgery: Toward Complex Inputs, Actionable Predictions, and Generalizable Translations CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE Schonfeld, E., Mordekai, N., Berg, A., Johnstone, T., Shah, A., Shah, V., Haider, G., Marianayagam, N. J., Veeravagu, A. 2024; 16 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.51963

  View details for Web of Science ID 001153117000002

• Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Secondary to Petroclival Meningioma Using Microsurgical Resection, Microvascular Decompression, and Stereotactic Radiosurgery: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) Park, D. J., Kumar, K. K., Marianayagam, N. J., Yener, U., Rahimy, E., Hancock, S., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2024; 26 (1): 107-108

  View details for DOI 10.1227/ons.0000000000000927

  View details for PubMedID 38099694

• Machine Learning in Neurosurgery: Toward Complex Inputs, Actionable Predictions, and Generalizable Translations. Cureus Schonfeld, E., Mordekai, N., Berg, A., Johnstone, T., Shah, A., Shah, V., Haider, G., Marianayagam, N. J., Veeravagu, A. 2024; 16 (1): e51963

  Abstract

  Machine learning can predict neurosurgical diagnosis and outcomes, power imaging analysis, and perform robotic navigation and tumor labeling. State-of-the-art models can reconstruct and generate images, predict surgical events from video, and assist in intraoperative decision-making. In this review, we will detail the neurosurgical applications of machine learning, ranging from simple to advanced models, and their potential to transform patient care. As machine learning techniques, outputs, and methods become increasingly complex, their performance is often more impactful yet increasingly difficult to evaluate. We aim to introduce these advancements to the neurosurgical audience while suggesting major potential roadblocks to their safe and effective translation. Unlike the previous generation of machine learning in neurosurgery, the safe translation of recent advancements will be contingent on neurosurgeons' involvement in model development and validation.

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.51963

  View details for PubMedID 38333513

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10851045

• Surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery for spinal leiomyosarcoma: a single-institution retrospective series and systematic review. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine Zamarud, A., Marianayagam, N. J., Sekar, V., Testa, S., Park, D. J., Yener, U., McCleary, T. L., Yoo, K. H., Emrich, S., Tayag, A., Ustrzynski, L., Pollom, E., Soltys, S., Wang, L., Charville, G., Ganjoo, K., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023: 1-13

  Abstract

  Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare, aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma that seldom spreads to the bone. The spine can be either the site of LMS osseous metastases or the primary tumor site. The optimal treatment option for spinal LMS is still unclear. The authors present a cohort of patients with spinal LMS treated with either upfront surgery or upfront CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).The authors retrospectively studied the clinical and radiological outcomes of 17 patients with spinal LMS treated at their institution between 2004 and 2020. Either surgery or SRS was used as the upfront treatment. The clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed. A systematic review of the literature was also conducted.Of the 17 patients (20 spinal lesions), 12 (70.6%) were female. The median patient age was 61 years (range 41-80 years). Ten patients had upfront surgery for their spinal lesions, and 7 had upfront CyberKnife radiosurgery. The median follow-up was 11 months (range 0.3-130 months). The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 13 months (range 0.3-97 months). In subgroup analysis, the median OS was lower for the surgical group (13 months, range 0.3-50 months), while the median OS for the SRS group was 15 months (range 5-97 months) (p = 0.5). Forty percent (n = 4) of those treated with surgery presented with local recurrence at a median of 6.7 months (range 0.3-36 months), while only 14% (n = 1) of those treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery had local recurrence after 5 months. Local tumor control (LTC) rates at the 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups were 72%, 58%, and 43%, respectively, for the SRS group and 40%, 30%, and 20%, respectively, for the surgery group (p < 0.05). The literature review included 35 papers with 70 patients harboring spinal LMS; only 2 patients were treated with SRS. The literature review confirms the clinical and radiological outcomes of the surgical group, while data on SRS are anecdotal.The authors present the largest series in the literature of spinal LMS and the first on SRS for spinal LMS. This study shows that LTC is statistically significantly better in patients receiving upfront SRS instead of surgery. The OS does not appear different between the two groups.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/2023.10.SPINE23666

  View details for PubMedID 38157539

• Type II Odontoid Fractures in the Elderly Presenting to the Emergency Department: An Assessment of Factors Affecting In-Hospital Mortality and Discharge to Skilled Nursing Facilities. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society Johnstone, T., Shah, V., Schonfeld, E., Sadeghzadeh, S., Haider, G., Stienen, M., Marianayagam, N. J., Veeravagu, A. 2023

  Abstract

  Type II odontoid fractures (OF) are among the most common cervical spine injuries in the geriatric population. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding their epidemiology. Additionally, the optimal management of these injuries remains controversial, and no study has evaluated the short-term outcomes of geriatric patients presenting to emergency departments (ED).This study aims to document the epidemiology of geriatric patients presenting to EDs with type II OFs and determine whether surgical management was associated with early adverse outcomes such as in-hospital mortality and discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNF).This is a retrospective cohort study.Data was used from the 2016-2020 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Patient encounters corresponding to type II OFs were identified. Patients younger than 65 at the time of presentation to the ED and those with concomitant spinal pathology were excluded.The association between the surgical management of geriatric type II OFs and outcomes such as in-hospital mortality and discharge to SNFs.Patient, fracture, and surgical management characteristics were recorded. A propensity score matched cohort was constructed to reduce differences in age, comorbidities, and injury severity between patients undergoing operative and nonoperative management. Additionally, to develop a positive control for the analysis of geriatric patients with type II OFs and no other concomitant spinal pathology, a cohort of patients that had been excluded due to the presence of a concomitant spinal cord injury (SCI) was also constructed. Multivariate regressions were then performed on both the matched and unmatched cohorts to ascertain the associations between surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality, inpatient length of stay, encounter charges, and discharge to SNFs.11,325 encounters were included. The mean total charge per encounter was $60,221. 634 (5.6%) patients passed away during their encounters. 1,005 (8.9%) patients were managed surgically. Surgical management of type II OFs was associated with a 316% increase in visit charge (95% CI: 291%-341%, p<0.001), increased inpatient length of stay (IRR: 2.87, 95% CI: 2.62-3.12, p<0.001), and increased likelihood of discharge to SNFs (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 2.26-3.05, p <0.001), but decreased in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.32, CI: 0.21-0.45, p<0.001). The propensity score matched cohort consisted of 2,010 patients, matching each of the 1,005 that underwent surgery to 1,005 that did not. These cohorts were well balanced across age (78.24 vs. 77.91 years), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (3.68 vs. 3.71), and Injury Severity Score (30.15 vs 28.93). This matching did not meaningfully alter the associations determined between surgical management and in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.34, CI = 0.21-0.55, p<0.001) or SNF discharge (OR = 2.59, CI = 2.13-3.16, p<0.001). Lastly, the positive control cohort of patients with concurrent SCI had higher rates of SNF discharge (50.0% vs. 42.6%, p<0.001), surgical management (32.3% vs. 9.7%, p<0.001), and in-hospital mortality (28.9% vs. 5.6%, p<0.001).This study lends insight into the epidemiology of geriatric type II OFs and quantifies risk factors influencing adverse outcomes. Patient informed consent should include a discussion of the protective association between definitive surgical management and in-hospital mortality against potential operative morbidity, increased lengths of hospital stay, and increased likelihood of discharge to SNFs. This information may impact patient treatment selection and decision making.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.spinee.2023.11.023

  View details for PubMedID 38101547

• Spinal metastases of pineal region glioblastoma with primitive neuroectodermal features highlighting the importance of molecular diagnoses: illustrative case. Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons Shah, A., Marianayagam, N. J., Zamarud, A., Park, D. J., Persad, A. R., Soltys, S. G., Chang, S. D., Veeravagu, A. 2023; 6 (20)

  Abstract

  Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor with poor patient prognosis. Spinal leptomeningeal metastasis has been rarely reported, with long intervals between the initial discovery of the primary tumor in the brain and eventual spine metastasis.Here, the authors present the case of a 51-year-old male presenting with 7 days of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine demonstrated a contrast-enhancing mass in the pineal region, along with spinal metastases to T8, T12, and L5. Initial frozen-section diagnosis led to the treatment strategy for medulloblastoma, but further molecular analysis revealed characteristics of isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild type, grade 4 GBM.Glioblastoma has the potential to show metastatic spread at the time of diagnosis. Spinal imaging should be considered in patients with clinical suspicion of leptomeningeal spread. Furthermore, molecular analysis should be confirmed following pathological diagnosis to fine-tune treatment strategies.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/CASE23536

  View details for PubMedID 37956418

• The outcome of central nervous system hemangioblastomas in Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease treated with belzutifan: a single-institution retrospective experience. Journal of neuro-oncology Zamarud, A., Marianayagam, N. J., Park, D. J., Yener, U., Yoo, K. H., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2023

  Abstract

  Belzutifan is a Hypoxia Inducible Factor 2-alpha inhibitor approved in 2021 by the FDA for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with Von-Hippel Landau (VHL) disease. These patients can also present with central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas (HBs). We aim to study the effectiveness and adverse effects of belzutifan for CNS HBs, by reporting our preliminary institutional experience.We present a series of VHL patients with CNS HBs undergoing treatment with belzutifan for RCC. All the included patients met the RECIST inclusion criteria. The clinical and radiological outcome measures included: Objective response rate (ORR), time-to-response (TTR), adverse events (AE), and patient response. Patient response was classified as partial response (PR), complete response (CR), progressive disease (PD), or stable disease (SD).Seven patients with 25 HBs were included in our study. A belzutifan dose of 120 mg/day PO was administered for a median of 13 months (range 10-17). Median follow up time was 15 months (range 10-24). An ORR of 71% was observed. The median TTR was 5 months (range: 1-10). None of the patients showed CR, while 5 patients (71.4%) showed PR and 2 (28.5%) showed SD. Among patients with SD the maximum tumor response was 20% [increase/decrease] of the lesion diameter. All the patients experienced decreased hemoglobin concentration, fatigue, and dizziness. None of the patients experienced severe anemia (grade 3-4 CTCAE).Belzutifan appears to be an effective and safe treatment for CNS hemangioblastoma in VHL patients. Further clinical trials to assess the long-term effectiveness of the medication are required.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11060-023-04496-z

  View details for PubMedID 37955759

  View details for PubMedCentralID 5573741

• STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR RESIDUAL, RECURRENT, AND METASTATIC HEMANGIOPERICYTOMAS: A SINGLE INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE Yoo, K., Park, D., Veeravagu, A., Lee, M., Marianayagam, N., Zamarud, A., Gu, X., Pollom, E., Soltys, S., Chang, S., Meola, A. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023

  View details for Web of Science ID 001115245400225

• STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR CYSTIC AND SOLID INTRACRANIAL HEMANGIOBLASTOMAS: A SINGLE-INSTITUTION RETROSPECTIVE SERIES Yoo, K., Park, D., Marianayagam, N., Pollom, E., Soltys, S., Meola, A., Chang, S. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023

  View details for Web of Science ID 001115245400236

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Cranial and Spinal Hemangioblastomas: A Single-Institution Retrospective Series. Neurosurgery Yoo, K. H., Park, D. J., Marianayagam, N. J., Gu, X., Pollom, E. L., Soltys, S. G., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023

  Abstract

  Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been an attractive treatment modality for both cranial and spinal hemangioblastomas, especially for multiple lesions commonly associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. This study aims to provide the largest long-term analysis of treatment efficacy and adverse effects of SRS for cranial and spinal hemangioblastomas at a single institution.We evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with hemangioblastomas treated with CyberKnife SRS at our institute from 1998 to 2022. The follow-up data were available for 135 hemangioblastomas in 35 patients. Twenty-eight patients had 123 hemangioblastomas associated with VHL, and 7 had 12 sporadic hemangioblastomas. The median age was 36 years, and the median tumor volume accounted for 0.4 cc. The SRS was administered with the median single-fraction equivalent dose of 18 Gy to the 77% median isodose line.At a median follow-up of 57 months (range: 3-260), only 20 (16.2%) of the VHL-associated and 1 (8.3%) sporadic hemangioblastomas progressed. The 5-year local tumor control rate was 91.3% for all hemangioblastomas, 91.7% among the sporadic lesions, and 92.9% in patients with VHL. SRS improved tumor-associated symptoms of 98 (74.8%) of 131 symptomatic hemangioblastomas, including headache, neck pain, dizziness, visual disturbances, dysesthesia, ataxia, motor impairment, seizures, and dysphagia. Two patients developed radiation necrosis (5.7%), and 1 of them required surgical resection.SRS is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with hemangioblastomas in critical locations, such as the brainstem, cervicomedullary junction, and spinal cord, and in patients with multiple hemangioblastomas associated with VHL disease.

  View details for DOI 10.1227/neu.0000000000002728

  View details for PubMedID 37967154

• Practical Guideline for Prevention of Patchy Hair Loss following CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Calvarial or Scalp Tumors: Retrospective Analysis of a Single Institution Experience. Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery Park, D. J., Marianayagam, N. J., Yener, U., Tayag, A., Ustrzynski, L., Emrich, S. C., Pollom, E., Soltys, S., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2023: 1-7

  Abstract

  Patchy alopecia is a common adverse effect of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on the calvarium and/or scalp, yet no guidelines exist for its prevention. This study aims to investigate the incidence and outcomes of patchy alopecia following SRS for patients with calvarial or scalp lesions and establish preventive guidelines.The study included 20 patients who underwent CyberKnife SRS for calvarial or scalp lesions, resulting in a total of 30 treated lesions. SRS was administered as a single fraction for 8 lesions and hypofractionated for 22 lesions. The median SRS target volume was 9.85 cc (range: 0.81-110.7 cc), and the median prescription dose was 27 Gy (range: 16-40 Gy), delivered in 1-5 fractions (median: 3). The median follow-up was 15 months.Among the 30 treated lesions, 11 led to patchy alopecia, while 19 did not. All cases of alopecia resolved within 12 months, and no patients experienced other adverse radiation effects. Lesions resulting in alopecia exhibited significantly higher biologically effective dose (BED) and single-fraction equivalent dose (SFED) on the overlying scalp compared to those without alopecia. Patients with BED and SFED exceeding 60 Gy and 20 Gy, respectively, were 9.3 times more likely to experience patchy alopecia than those with lower doses. The 1-year local tumor control rate for the treated lesions was 93.3%. Chemotherapy was administered for 26 lesions, with 11 lesions receiving radiosensitizing agents. However, no statistically significant difference was found.In summary, SRS is a safe and effective treatment for patients with calvarial/scalp masses regarding patchy alopecia near the treated area. Limiting the BED under 60 Gy and SFED under 20 Gy for the overlying scalp can help prevent patchy alopecia during SRS treatment of the calvarial/scalp mass. Clinicians can use this information to inform patients about the risk of alopecia and the contributing factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1159/000533555

  View details for PubMedID 37699370

• Sigma-1 receptor expression in a subpopulation of lumbar spinal cord microglia in response to peripheral nerve injury. Scientific reports Schonfeld, E., Johnstone, T. M., Haider, G., Shah, A., Marianayagam, N. J., Biswal, S., Veeravagu, A. 2023; 13 (1): 14762

  Abstract

  Sigma-1 Receptor has been shown to localize to sites of peripheral nerve injury and back pain. Radioligand probes have been developed to localize Sigma-1 Receptor and thus image pain source. However, in non-pain conditions, Sigma-1 Receptor expression has also been demonstrated in the central nervous system and dorsal root ganglion. This work aimed to study Sigma-1 Receptor expression in a microglial cell population in the lumbar spine following peripheral nerve injury. A publicly available transcriptomic dataset of 102,691 L4/5 mouse microglial cells from a sciatic-sural nerve spared nerve injury model and 93,027 age and sex matched cells from a sham model was used. At each of three time points-postoperative day 3, postoperative day 14, and postoperative month 5-gene expression data was recorded for both spared nerve injury and Sham cell groups. For all cells, 27,998 genes were sequenced. All cells were clustered into 12 distinct subclusters and gene set enrichment pathway analysis was performed. For both the spared nerve injury and Sham groups, Sigma-1 Receptor expression significantly decreased at each time point following surgery. At the 5-month postoperative time point, only one of twelve subclusters showed significantly increased Sigma-1 Receptor expression in spared nerve injury cells as compared to Sham cells (p = 0.0064). Pathway analysis of this cluster showed a significantly increased expression of the inflammatory response pathway in the spared nerve injury cells relative to Sham cells at the 5-month time point (p = 6.74e-05). A distinct subcluster of L4/5 microglia was identified which overexpress Sigma-1 Receptor following peripheral nerve injury consistent with neuropathic pain inflammatory response functioning. This indicates that upregulated Sigma-1 Receptor in the central nervous system characterizes post-acute peripheral nerve injury and may be further developed for clinical use in the differentiation between low back pain secondary to peripheral nerve injury and low back pain not associated with peripheral nerve injury in cases where the pain cannot be localized.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-023-42063-8

  View details for PubMedID 37679500

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10484902

• Optimizing the synergy between stereotactic radiosurgery and immunotherapy for brain metastases. Frontiers in oncology Yoo, K. H., Park, D. J., Choi, J. H., Marianayagam, N. J., Lim, M., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2023; 13: 1223599

  Abstract

  Solid tumors metastasizing to the brain are a frequent occurrence with an estimated incidence of approximately 30% of all cases. The longstanding conventional standard of care comprises surgical resection and whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT); however, this approach is associated with limited long-term survival and local control outcomes. Consequently, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a potential alternative approach. The primary aim of SRS has been to improve long-term control rates. Nevertheless, rare observations of abscopal or out-of-field effects have sparked interest in the potential to elicit antitumor immunity via the administration of high-dose radiation. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has traditionally posed a significant challenge to the efficacy of systemic therapy in managing intracranial metastasis. However, recent insights into the immune-brain interface and the development of immunotherapeutic agents have shown promise in preclinical and early-phase clinical trials. Researchers have investigated combining immunotherapy with SRS to enhance treatment outcomes in patients with brain metastasis. The combination approach aims to optimize long-term control and overall survival (OS) outcomes by leveraging the synergistic effects of both therapies. Initial findings have been encouraging in the management of various intracranial metastases, while further studies are required to determine the optimal order of administration, radiation doses, and fractionation regimens that have the potential for the best tumor response. Currently, several clinical trials are underway to assess the safety and efficacy of administering immunotherapeutic agents concurrently or consecutively with SRS. In this review, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and drawbacks of integrating immunotherapy into conventional SRS protocols for the treatment of intracranial metastasis.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fonc.2023.1223599

  View details for PubMedID 37637032

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10456862

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Contrast-Enhancing Satellite Nodules in Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Rare Case Series From a Single Institution. Cureus Park, D. J., Persad, A. R., Yoo, K. H., Marianayagam, N. J., Yener, U., Tayag, A., Ustrzynski, L., Emrich, S. C., Chuang, C., Pollom, E., Soltys, S. G., Meola, A., Chang, S. D. 2023; 15 (8): e44455

  Abstract

  Introduction Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant adult brain tumor and is invariably fatal. The standard treatment for GBM involves resection where possible, followed by chemoradiation per Stupp's protocol. We frequently use stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a single-fraction treatment for small (volume ≤ 1cc) nodular recurrent GBM to the contrast-enhancing target on T1 MRI scan. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SRS for patients with contrast-enhancing satellite nodules in recurrent GBM. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the clinical and radiological outcomes of five patients who underwent CyberKnife (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, California) SRS at the institute between 2013 and 2022. Results From 96 patients receiving SRS for GBM, five (four males, one female; median age 53) had nine distinct new satellite lesions on MRI, separate from their primary tumor beds. Those nine lesions were treated with a median margin dose of 20 Gy in a single fraction. The three-, six, and 12-month local tumor control rates were 77.8%, 66.7%, and 26.7%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was seven months, median overall survival following SRS was 10 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 35 months. Interestingly, the only lesion that did not show radiological progression was separate from the T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signal of the main tumor. Conclusion Our SRS treatment outcomes for recurrent GBM satellite lesions are consistent with existing findings. However, in a unique case, a satellite nodule distinct from the primary tumor's T2-FLAIR signal and treated with an enlarged target volume showed promising control until the patient's demise. This observation suggests potential research avenues, given the limited strategies for 'multicentric' GBM lesions.

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.44455

  View details for PubMedID 37664337

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10470661

• Stereotactic radiosurgery for distant brain metastases secondary to esthesioneuroblastoma: a single-institution series. Neurosurgical focus Zamarud, A., Yener, U., Yoo, K. H., Park, D. J., Marianayagam, N. J., Ho, Q. A., Pollom, E., Soltys, S., Wang, L., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023; 55 (2): E6

  Abstract

  Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), also known as olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare, malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin that arises from the olfactory neuroepithelium. In this study the authors present the first series in the literature on distant brain metastases (BMs) secondary to ENB that were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SRS for this indication.A retrospective analysis of clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with ENB who underwent CyberKnife (CK) SRS at a single center was conducted. The clinical and radiological outcomes of patients, including progression-free survival, overall survival, and local tumor control (LTC) were reported.Between 2003 and 2022, 32 distant BMs in 8 patients were treated with CK SRS at Stanford University. The median patient age at BM diagnosis was 62 years (range 47-75 years). Among 32 lesions, 2 (6%) had previously been treated with surgery, whereas for all other lesions (30 [94%]), CK SRS was used as their primary treatment modality. The median target volume was 1.5 cm3 (range 0.09-21.54 cm3). CK SRS was delivered by a median marginal dose of 23 Gy (range 15-30 Gy) and a median of 3 fractions (range 1-5 fractions) to a median isodose line of 77% (range 70%-88%). The median biologically effective dose was 48 Gy (range 21-99.9 Gy) and the median follow-up was 30 months (range 3-95 months). The LTC at 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up was 86%, 65%, and 50%, respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 29 months (range 11-79 months) and 51 months (range 15-79 months), respectively. None of the patients presented adverse radiation effects.In the authors' experience, SRS provided excellent LTC without any adverse radiation effects for BMs secondary to ENB.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/2023.5.FOCUS23216

  View details for PubMedID 37527675

• Stereotactic radiosurgery for sarcoma metastases to the brain: a single-institution experience. Neurosurgical focus Zamarud, A., Park, D. J., Dadey, D. Y., Yoo, K. H., Marianayagam, N. J., Yener, U., Szalkowski, G. A., Pollom, E., Soltys, S., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023; 55 (2): E7

  Abstract

  Brain metastases (BMs) secondary to sarcoma are rare, and their incidence ranges from 1% to 8% of all bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Although stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is widely used for BMs, only a few papers have reported on SRS for sarcoma metastasizing to the brain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SRS for sarcoma BM.The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with BM secondary to histopathologically confirmed sarcoma treated with SRS, either as primary treatment or as adjuvant therapy after surgery, at their institution between January 2005 and September 2022. They also compared the outcomes of patients with hemorrhagic lesions and of those without.Twenty-three patients (9 females) with 150 BMs secondary to sarcoma were treated with CyberKnife SRS. Median age at the time of treatment was 48.22 years (range 4-76 years). The most common primary tumor sites were the heart, lungs, uterus, upper extremities, chest wall, and head and neck. The median Karnofsky Performance Status on presentation was 73.28 (range 40-100). Eight patients underwent SRS as a primary treatment and 15 as adjuvant therapy to the resection cavity. The median tumor volume was 24.1 cm3 (range 0.1-150.3 cm3), the median marginal dose was 24 Gy (range 18-30 Gy) delivered in a median of 1 fraction (range 1-5) to a median isodose line of 76%. The median follow-up was 8 months (range 2-40 months). Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 5.3 months (range 0.4-32 months) and 8.2 months (range 0.1-40), respectively. The 3-, 6-, and 12-month local tumor control (LTC) rates for all lesions were respectively 78%, 52%, and 30%. There were no radiation-induced adverse effects. LTC at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups was better in patients without hemorrhagic lesions (100%, 70%, and 40%, respectively) than in those with hemorrhagic lesions (68%, 38%, and 23%, respectively).SRS, both as a primary treatment and as adjuvant therapy to the resection cavity after surgery, is a safe and relatively effective treatment modality for sarcoma BMs. Nonhemorrhagic lesions show better LTC than hemorrhagic lesions. Larger studies aiming to validate these results are encouraged.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/2023.5.FOCUS23168

  View details for PubMedID 37527671

• Progression to fusion after lumbar laminectomy for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis: Rate and risk-factors. A national database study. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Haider, G., Varshneya, K., Rodrigues, A., Marianayagam, N., Stienen, M. N., Veeravagu, A. 2023; 233: 107919

  Abstract

  Lumbar laminectomy is often utilized in the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Risk factors that contribute to reoperation rates, in particular to progression to fusion, are poorly understood. We aimed to identify rate and risk factors of lumbar fusion surgery following lumbar laminectomy for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal spondylolisthesis.Our sample was obtained from the national MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database. We reviewed patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy for stable degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (Grade-1) at one or two levels between January 2007 and December 2016.A total of 33,681 patients were included. By 2 years after the index operation, 2.48 % of patients had required lumbar fusion surgery. Female sex was associated with lower odds (OR 0.8, 95 %CI 0.7-0.9) of reoperation for fusion. Diabetes (OR 1.2, 95 %CI 1.1-1.4), rheumatoid arthritis (OR 1.5, 95 %CI 1.2-1.7) and clinical presentation with LBP (OR 2.1, 95 %CI 1.6-2.9), lower extremity weakness (OR 1.4, 95 %CI 1.1-1.5), as well as occurrence of a postoperative neurological complications (OR 2.0, 95 %CI 1.1-3.4) increased the odds ratio for requiring fusion surgery within two years after lumbar laminectomy.In this large cross-sectional sample of a national claims database consisting of lumbar laminectomy patients for the treatment of spondylolisthesis, approximately 2.5 % required subsequent lumbar fusion. Several modifiable risk factors for fusion progression were identified, which may guide clinicians in shared decision-making and to help identify patients with elevated post-operative risk providing potential leverage point for prevention.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.107919

  View details for PubMedID 37536253

• CyberKnife radiosurgery for treatment of residual or recurrent Grade 1 choroid plexus papilloma: A single institution experience. World neurosurgery Zhang, M., Park, D. J., Marianayagam, N. J., Yener, U., Soltys, S. G., Pollom, E., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023

  Abstract

  Choroid plexus papillomas (CPP) are rare intraventricular brain tumors derived from the epithelium of the choroid plexus. Gross total resection has traditionally been considered curative, but residual tumor or recurrence remains possible. SRS has become particularly more important strategy for subtotally resectied and recurrent tumors. The evidence-based rationale of SRS treatment for residual or recurrent CPP in adult patients is still lacking due to its rarity.We retrospectively reviewed histopathologically confirmed cases of residual or recurrent CPP treated with SRS at our institute in the adult population between 2005 and 2022. Three patients, with five lesions, were identified with a median age of 63 years. Patients presented initially with hydrocephalus-related symptoms, although ventriculomegaly was noted only in one patient radiographically. The tumor locations were most common in 4th ventricle or along foramen of Luschka. Treatment was delivered in a single fraction in 4 lesions and in 3 fractions in 1 patient. The median follow-up was 26 months.The local tumor control rate for the lesions was 80%. One patient developed a new lesion outside the SRS field, and one lesion developed progression without need for subsequent treatment. There were no significant shrinkage of the lesions radiographically. None of the patients revealed radiation-related adverse events. No patients required surgical management after SRS treatment at our institution. Based on the literature review, our case series was the second largest retrospective series from a single institution on SRS for recurrent or residual CPP.SRS for patients with recurrent or residual CPP was a safe and effective treatment modality in this case series. Larger studies are encouraged to validate the role of SRS in the treatment of recurrent or residual CPP.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.07.003

  View details for PubMedID 37423336

• Treatment Outcomes of Leiomyosarcoma Metastasis Affecting the Brachial Plexus: A Comparative Case Report Using Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT). Cureus Zamarud, A., Marianayagam, N., Sekar, V., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023; 15 (3): e36715

  Abstract

  Sarcomas are a rare type of cancer that can develop in various parts of the body, including the brachial plexus. Leiomyosarcomas (LMs) are a subtype of sarcoma that develops in smooth muscle tissue and can metastasize to different parts of the body. In this case report, we present two patients with LM metastasized to the brachial plexus, one treated with CyberKnife (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA) stereotactic radiosurgery (CK SRS) and the other with surgical resection. The aim of this case report is to present the treatment outcomes and adverse effects of CK SRS and surgical resection in brachial plexus LM metastasis. Patient 1 was a 39-year-old female who received CK SRS, and at three months of follow-up, the lesion was smaller, and she reported symptomatic improvement. At 15 months, the lesion was stable in size, and there was no evidence of local invasion of the adjacent vascular structures or nerves. Patient 2 was a 52-year-old male who underwent surgical resection, and at one-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with no recurrence of his symptoms. The size of the residual axillary tumor was stable at three months and showed a slight interval decrease in size at five months of follow-up. He was followed for over 12 months, with no recurrence of his symptoms. Both treatments appear to have been effective in controlling LM growth and relieving symptoms. CK SRS provides a non-invasive option. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of these treatments for brachial plexus sarcoma. This case report highlights the importance of considering different treatment options for brachial plexus sarcoma and the need for further studies to understand the best approach for these rare cases.

  View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.36715

  View details for PubMedID 37113342

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10129366

• Stereotactic radiosurgery for localized cranial Langerhans cell histiocytosis: A single institution experience and review of literature. World neurosurgery Park, D. J., Marianayagam, N. J., Yener, U., Wang, L., Soltys, S. G., Pollom, E., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023

  Abstract

  Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare idiopathic disease characterized by the clonal proliferation of Langerhans histiocytes in various parts of the body and capable of leading to organ damage and tumor formation. Reports of cranial LCH in the adult population are extremely rare. Although surgery remains the preferred option for localized LCH lesions, the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is emerging as well.To retrospectively review a rare case series to determine the safety and effectiveness of SRS for patients with localized cranial LCH.We retrospectively reviewed histopathologically confirmed cases of localized cranial LCH treated with SRS at our institute in the adult population between January 2005 and September 2022. Five patients were identified with a median age of 34 years (19-54 years). The tumor location was in the pituitary stalk in three patients, the orbit in one patient, and the parietal skull in one patient. The median target volume was 2.8 cc (range: 0.37-6.11). Treatment was delivered in a single fraction in 4 patients (median margin dose of 8 Gy (range: 7-10 Gy) and in 3 fractions (22.5 Gy) in 1 patient. The median follow-up was 12 years (range: 4-17). None of the patients required craniotomy for tumor debulking before or after SRS.The local tumor control rate for the lesions was 100%. All three patients with LCH in the pituitary stalk had diabetes insipidus at the initial presentation and developed panhypopituitarism after SRS. Diabetes insipidus was not improved after SRS. The other two patients presented no adverse radiation effects. Based on the literature review, our case series was the largest retrospective series on SRS for localized cranial LCH, with the longest median follow-up.SRS for patients with localized cranial LCH was a safe and effective treatment modality in this case series. Larger studies are encouraged to validate the role of SRS in the treatment of localized cranial LCH.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.01.053

  View details for PubMedID 36681322