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Journal of Neuro-oncology May 2024Clival metastatic cancer is rare and has limited literature to guide management. We describe management of clival metastasis with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). We...
PURPOSE
Clival metastatic cancer is rare and has limited literature to guide management. We describe management of clival metastasis with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). We augment our findings with a systematic review of all forms of radiation therapy for clival metastasis.
METHODS
Records of 14 patients with clival metastasis who underwent GKRS at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2002 to 2023 were reviewed. Treatment parameters and clinical outcomes were assessed. A systematic review was conducted using evidence-based guidelines.
RESULTS
The average age was 61 years with male predominance (n = 10) and average follow-up of 12.4 months. The most common primary cancers were prostate (n = 3) and lung (n = 3). The average time from cancer diagnosis to clival metastasis was 34 months. The most common presenting symptoms were headache (n = 9) and diplopia (n = 7). Five patients presented with abducens nerve palsies, and two presented with oculomotor nerve palsies. The median tumor volume was 9.3 cc, and the median margin dose was 15 Gy. Eleven patients achieved tumor control after one procedure, and three with progression obtained tumor control after repeat GKRS. One patient recovered abducens nerve function. The median survival from cancer diagnosis and GKRS were 49.7 and 15.3 months, respectively. The cause of death was progression of systemic cancer in six patients, clival metastasis in one, and unknown in four. The systematic review included 31 studies with heterogeneous descriptions of treatment and outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Clival metastasis is rare and associated with poor prognosis. GKRS is a safe, effective treatment for clival metastasis.
Topics: Humans; Radiosurgery; Middle Aged; Male; Female; Cranial Fossa, Posterior; Aged; Skull Base Neoplasms; Adult
PubMed: 38598088
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-024-04648-9 -
Strabismus Jun 2023The aim of this systematic review is to identify cases of neurogenic ocular palsy in the presence of COVID-19 and to document patient characteristics, type of palsy and...
BACKGROUND
The aim of this systematic review is to identify cases of neurogenic ocular palsy in the presence of COVID-19 and to document patient characteristics, type of palsy and possible aetiologies.
METHODS
A systematic search of PubMed, Medline and CINAHL databases was conducted on the 6th of January 2023 to identify cases of neurogenic ocular palsy in patients with current or previous COVID-19 infection. Data were pooled to summarise the neurogenic palsy, patient clinical characteristics and proposed palsy mechanisms.
RESULTS
The combined database search yielded 1197 articles. Of these, 23 publications consisting of 25 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most patients were male (68%) and ranged in age from 2 to 71 years (median=32.7, SD=21.4). Seven patients (28%) were children aged 2 to 10 years old. Abducens palsies were most common (68%) and the most common ocular presentation was diplopia (76%) with an average time of onset 15 days from testing positive to COVID-19 or having symptoms of the virus. Proposed mechanism of development of a neurogenic palsy secondary to COVID-19 infection was classified into one of three categories: vascular/thrombotic, a viral neuro-invasive or inflammatory virus-mediated immune response.
DISCUSSION
This study suggests that COVID-19 infection may be linked to oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerve palsies and the underlying mechanisms may vary but are difficult to definitively establish. Further studies investigating the onset of neurogenic palsy secondary to COVID-19 infection is required.
Topics: Child; Humans; Male; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Female; COVID-19; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases; Abducens Nerve Diseases; Diplopia; Paralysis
PubMed: 37448224
DOI: 10.1080/09273972.2023.2232419 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023For the assessment of patients presenting with acute prolonged vertigo meeting diagnostic criteria for acute vestibular syndrome (AVS), bedside oculomotor examinations...
OBJECTIVES
For the assessment of patients presenting with acute prolonged vertigo meeting diagnostic criteria for acute vestibular syndrome (AVS), bedside oculomotor examinations are essential to distinguish peripheral from central causes. Here we assessed patterns of spontaneous nystagmus (SN) observed in AVS and its diagnostic accuracy at the bedside.
METHODS
MEDLINE and Embase were searched for studies (1980-2022) reporting on the bedside diagnostic accuracy of SN-patterns in AVS patients. Two independent reviewers determined inclusion. We identified 4,186 unique citations, examined 219 full manuscripts, and analyzed 39 studies. Studies were rated on risk of bias (QUADAS-2). Diagnostic data were extracted and SN beating-direction patterns were correlated with lesion locations and lateralization.
RESULTS
Included studies reported on 1,599 patients, with ischemic strokes ( = 747) and acute unilateral vestibulopathy ( = 743) being most frequent. While a horizontal or horizontal-torsional SN was significantly more often found in peripheral AVS (pAVS) than in central AVS (cAVS) patients (672/709 [94.8%] vs. 294/677 [43.4%], < 0.001), torsional and/or vertical SN-patterns were more prevalent in cAVS than in pAVS (15.1 vs. 2.6%, < 0.001). For an (isolated) vertical/vertical-torsional SN or an isolated torsional SN specificity (97.7% [95% CI = 95.1-100.0%]) for a central origin etiology was high, whereas sensitivity (19.1% [10.5-27.7%]) was low. Absence of any horizontal SN was more frequently observed in cAVS than in pAVS (55.2 vs. 7.0%, < 0.001). Ipsilesional and contralesional beating directions of horizontal SN in cAVS were found at similar frequency (28.0 vs. 21.7%, = 0.052), whereas for pAVS a contralesional SN was significantly more frequent (95.2 vs. 2.5%, < 0.001). For PICA strokes presenting with horizontal SN, beating direction was ipsilesional more often than contralesional (23.9 vs. 6.4%, = 0.006), while the opposite was observed for AICA strokes (2.2 vs. 63.0%, < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
(Isolated) vertical and/or torsional SN is found in a minority (15.1%) of cAVS patients only. When present, it is highly predictive for a central cause. A combined torsional-downbeating SN-pattern may be observed in pAVS also in cases with isolated lesions of the inferior branch of the vestibular nerve. Furthermore, in cAVS patients the SN beating direction itself does not allow a prediction on the lesion side.
PubMed: 37396773
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1208902 -
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery Feb 2023This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy from COVID-19 infection, and provide guidance on their...
AIM
This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy from COVID-19 infection, and provide guidance on their treatment and management.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review and retrospective analysis on the clinical features and outcomes of patients with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy from COVID-19 reported in literature over the past three years.
RESULTS
We analyzed a total of 11 cases; 9 identified in literature from January 2020 to September 2022, together with our two patients. Their median age was 46 years (range 2-65), and three were children. More than half (6/11, 55 %) were without medical history. Oculomotor nerve palsies tended to occur early (longest interval of 16 days), but they can also occur concurrently (2/11, 18 %) or before the appearance of COVID-19 symptoms (1/11, 9 %). COVID-19 symptoms tended to be mild (8/11, 73 %). Oculomotor nerve palsies, however, displayed neither a clear gender predilection, nor consistent clinical features in terms of the severity of extraocular weakness and the involvement of pupillary light responses. Nearly two-thirds (7/11, 64 %) received no pharmacological treatment. Regardless, recovery was complete in nearly all (9/10, 90 %), with most occurring within a month (8/9, 89 %) CONCLUSION: Isolated oculomotor nerve palsies are early but uncommon complications of COVID-19. They affect patients with mild infections, and can be the first symptom. Prognosis is excellent, with recovery being often complete and early. Early discharge and outpatient clinical review, with or without short courses of oral steroids, are reasonable treatment measures.
Topics: Child; Humans; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Retrospective Studies; COVID-19; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases; Prognosis; Oculomotor Nerve
PubMed: 36696848
DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.107601 -
Medicine Dec 2022Covid-19 has serious sequelae that may be poorly understood, underreported, and, as a result, not diagnosed promptly, such as variations in clinical manifestations of...
BACKGROUND
Covid-19 has serious sequelae that may be poorly understood, underreported, and, as a result, not diagnosed promptly, such as variations in clinical manifestations of hyperinflammation among people infected with SARS-CoV-2. ophthalmoplegia can be one of these manifestations.
METHODS
We are reporting a 55-year-old male patient with unilateral diplopia considering it as a case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults. We also reviewed the literature systematically for the previously reported studies/cases with third, fourth and sixth cranial nerve palsies due to or after Covid-19.
RESULTS
The literature search yielded 17 studies reporting 29 patients. 71.4% of the patients were males with a mean age of 42.23 years. Ophthalmological symptoms took 9.7 days to appear after the respiratory involvement. All patients had diplopia as part of their visual symptoms. 41.4% of the patients had unilateral sixth nerve palsy, 24% had bilateral sixth nerve involvement, 17% had fourth nerve involvement, and 27.6% had third nerve involvement.
CONCLUSION
Ophthalmoplegia is considered presenting symptom of Covid-19. Further research is needed to detect all neuro-ophthalmological manifestations of Covid-19.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Abducens Nerve Diseases; COVID-19; Cranial Nerve Diseases; Diplopia; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases; Ophthalmoplegia; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 36626529
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000032023 -
Cureus Oct 2022From conception to childbirth, there are many physical, hormonal, and psychological changes that a woman undergoes during pregnancy. During this time, balance is also... (Review)
Review
From conception to childbirth, there are many physical, hormonal, and psychological changes that a woman undergoes during pregnancy. During this time, balance is also affected, resulting in symptoms like vertigo and unsteadiness. These symptoms can lead to physical impairment and disability and can develop at any time. Vertigo in pregnancy has not been extensively written about. The subject of a narrative review is vertigo in pregnant patients. In pregnant women, hormonal alterations in the peripheral tissues and inner ear organs may contribute to vertigo. Meniere's disease, mild convulsive positional dizziness, and oculomotor migraines are all commonly exacerbated by pregnancy. Between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, specific modifications to proprioception and hearing are also detected during physical examination. Patients who are pregnant typically experience these symptoms throughout this time. Some vertigo conditions can worsen during pregnancy, while others can appear at any time. Understanding audio-vestibular symptoms' pathological and clinical relationship during pregnancy requires more study.
PubMed: 36337796
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.29814 -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Dec 2022To evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP).
METHODS
The following database will be required from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture alone versus no treatment/another active therapy/sham acupuncture or comparing acupuncture with another active therapy versus the same active therapy were included. Meta-analysis was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Data was analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results were reported as risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes or mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes, with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to access the methodological quality of the trails.
RESULTS
Eighteen RCTs with 1150 participants comparing acupuncture versus other therapies were included. The results showed a significant differences in the clinical efficiency rate (RR = 1.30, 95 %CI = 1.23-1.37, P < 0.001), scores of diplopia (MD = - 0.78, 95 %CI = - 1.39 to - 0.77, P < 0.001), palpebral fissure size (MD = 1.04, 95 %CI = 0.41-1.68, P = 0.001), the pupil diameter (MD = - 0.56, 95 %CI = - 0.70 to - 0.42, P < 0.001), quality of life (MD = 8.96, 95 %CI = 6.79-11.13, P < 0.001) between the experiment and control groups. However, there were no significant differences in the adverse effects (RR = 0.52, 95 %CI = 0.22-1.22, P = 0.13). The quality of the evidence test by GRADE was low or very low.
CONCLUSION
Most included studies suggested that acupuncture was more effective than the control group in the treatment of ONP. However, the quality evidence of most of the studies was low and most of them were performed in China.
Topics: Humans; Acupuncture Therapy; Quality of Life; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases; China
PubMed: 36152935
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102888 -
Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology : the... Jun 2022A worldwide mass vaccination campaign against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently underway. Although the safety data of the clinical trials did...
BACKGROUND
A worldwide mass vaccination campaign against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently underway. Although the safety data of the clinical trials did not report specific concerns regarding neuro-ophthalmological adverse events, they involved a limited number of individuals and were conducted over a relatively short time. The aim of the current review is to summarize the available postmarketing data regarding the occurrence of neuro-ophthalmological and other ocular complications of the COVID-19 vaccines.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
Electronic searches for published literature were conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The search strategy incorporated controlled vocabulary and free-text synonyms for the concepts of COVID, vaccines, and visual and neuro-ophthalmologic diseases and symptoms.
RESULTS
A total of 14 case reports and 2 case series have been selected for inclusion in the final report, reporting 76 cases of post-COVID-vaccination adverse events. The most common adverse event was optic neuritis (n = 61), followed by uveitis (n = 3), herpes zoster ophthalmicus (n = 2), acute macular neuroretinopathy (n = 2), optic disc edema as an atypical presentation of Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 1), (arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; n = 1), abducens nerve palsy (n = 1), oculomotor nerve palsy (n = 1), Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (n = 1), central serous retinopathy (n = 1), acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (n = 1), and bilateral choroiditis (n = 1). Most cases were treated with high-dose steroids and had a favorable clinical outcome.
CONCLUSION
Since the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the past year, several post-COVID-vaccination neuro-ophthalmological complications have been described. However, considering the number of individuals that have been exposed to the vaccines, the risk seems very low, and the clinical outcome in most cases is favorable. Therefore, on a population level, the benefits of the vaccines far outweigh the risk of neuro-ophthalmological complications.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus; Humans; Pandemics
PubMed: 35427282
DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001537 -
Neurocirugia (English Edition) 2023The literature that explains the neurological mechanisms underlying the development or compensation of idiopathic scoliosis is limited. The objective of the article is... (Review)
Review
The literature that explains the neurological mechanisms underlying the development or compensation of idiopathic scoliosis is limited. The objective of the article is to describe and integrate the mechanisms and nerve pathways through which idiopathic scoliosis is compensated and/or developed. A narrative systematic review in different databases of the studies published between January 1, 1967 and April 1, 2021 was performed, using the following terms: "scoliosis", "vision", "eye", "vestibule", "labyrinth" "posture", "balance", "eye movements", "cerebellum", "proprioception", and "physiological adaptation". In the search, 1112 references were identified, of which 50 were finally included: 46 observational analytical clinical studies-descriptive (between cohorts, report and series of cases) and 4 experimental studies. In the neurological response to idiopathic scoliosis, the sensory-cortical integration of the afferences in the visual-oculomotor-vestibular-proprioceptive systems, allows modifications at the postural level in order to achieve an initial compensation on the sagittal balance and the centre of body mass; however, over time these compensation mechanisms may be exhausted causing progression of the initial deformity.
Topics: Humans; Scoliosis; Proprioception; Posture; Vestibule, Labyrinth; Neural Pathways
PubMed: 35256329
DOI: 10.1016/j.neucie.2022.02.009 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2021Intraorbital tumor could be approached by numerous surgical methods. The neuroendoscopic endonasal approach could provide a feasible corridor for indicated tumors....
Intraorbital tumor could be approached by numerous surgical methods. The neuroendoscopic endonasal approach could provide a feasible corridor for indicated tumors. Herein we present a series of 6 consecutive intraorbital tumors from April 2018 to October 2020, which received endonasal endoscopic resection. Cadaveric dissection was performed for the intraconal approach, and the literature was also reviewed. Five tumors were located intraconally, while one extraconally. The pathology revealed 1 angioleiomyoma, 1 cavernous hemangioma, 1 pilocytic astrocytoma, 1 meningioma, and 2 schwannomas. Five of the six achieved gross total resection, including 3 tumors with lateral extension beyond the optic nerve. Preoperative visual deterioration was observed in 4 of the 6 patients, and all got improvement postoperatively. Transient oculomotor nerve palsy was presented in one patient postoperatively. No cerebrospinal fluid leakage, enophthalmos, or strabismus was observed. The median follow-up time is 27 months (11~41 months). At the 6-month follow-up, the visual acuity remained unchanged compared with that at discharge. Proptosis was resolved in 2 of the 3 patients; diplopia was improved in one patient. In conclusion, endoscopic endonasal intraconal approach could be suitable for selected pathological conditions, and for both medial or beyond medial extraconal and intraconal orbital tumors.
PubMed: 35047399
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.780551