BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Intracranial epidermoid cysts are rare, slow-growing but highly recurrent tumors with incompletely understood symptoms, progression, complications, and outcomes. The aim of the study was to characterize the symptomatology, surgical management, and long-term outcomes of these tumors. METHODS:This single-center retrospective analysis identified patients with pathologically confirmed intracranial epidermoid cysts from 1989 to 2023. Demographic and clinical variables were collected at diagnosis, before and after each resection, and at the latest follow-up. Differences across time points were evaluated using analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference tests and Pearson χ 2 test with posthoc Bonferroni-corrected z-tests for independent proportions (significance: P ≤ .05). Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate predictors for recurrence-free survival and 30-day readmission following first surgery, respectively. RESULTS:Of 146 patients in the final cohort, the average age at diagnosis was 40.3 years, and 52.1% of patients were female. The mean maximum tumor dimension at presentation was 4.3 cm. Most presenting symptoms were significantly reduced at the latest follow-up, including headaches (presentation: 40.4%/latest follow-up: 8.8%, P < .001), vertigo/nausea/vomiting (33.1%/3.7%, P < .001), ataxia/incoordination (22.8%/4.4%, P < .001), and seizures (11.8%/2.9%, P < .005). Similarly, significant improvements were observed in cranial nerve (CN) II deficits (11.0%/3.7%, P = .020) and CN V (11.8%/3.7%, P = .012) and CN VIII excitatory symptoms (11.8%/2.9%, P = .005). Following the first resection, 12.5% of patients were readmitted within 30 days; lumbar drain placement was associated with higher odds of readmission (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] = 8.26 [1.29-88.19]). Evidence of tumor remnant on the immediate postoperative MRI was associated with a shorter time to recurrence following the first surgery ( P = .023). CONCLUSION:The clinical progression of intracranial epidermoid cysts is marked by a spectrum of troublesome presenting symptoms and a notable tendency for recurrence, particularly following subtotal resection. Nevertheless, symptomatic improvement is the rule even if reoperations are needed, and mortality is exceedingly rare.

The endoscopic endonasal approach for resection of craniopharyngiomas has gained popularity because of its minimal need for retraction and superior visualization of and access to the optic chiasm.1-4 Despite these advantages, the proximity of craniopharyngiomas to the optic apparatus still challenges the preservation of visual function.5-10 Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography can evaluate the perfusion of the chiasm and can predict visual outcomes after endonasal approaches, in addition to known uses of the dye.3 ICG angiography may therefore hold promise in the real-time assessment of optic chiasm perfusion during resection of craniopharyngiomas by delineating details of the superior hypophyseal artery (SHA) system. Here, we present a case in which ICG angiogram was used to assess the perfusion of the chiasm before, during, and after tumor resection. This technique signaled thrombosis of the left principal SHA during tumor resection that was compensated by the anastomotic SHA system from the right. The case shows an endoscopic endonasal approach for the resection of a third ventricular craniopharyngioma in a 21-year-old woman presenting with unremitting headaches, endocrine dysfunction, and vision loss. Postoperatively, the patient's neurological examination remained unchanged and visual function improved within 2 weeks. This case underscores the potential for real-time intraoperative ICG angiography to assist in the careful resection of craniopharyngiomas while improving visual outcomes. Institutional review board approval was not required; the patient consented to the procedure and to publishing of the operative video.

Background: Publicly reported hospital risk-adjusted mortality rates (RAMRs) reflect real-world outcomes and may be used to understand the impact of advances in medical evidence. Our study presents an analysis of RAMRs in California hospitals across the time period of publication of major trials in stroke intervention, to interrogate the effect of these trials upon population-level mortality from stroke. Methods: Stroke (total acute, ischemic, hemorrhagic, subarachnoid hemorrhage) RAMR data from 2010 to 2020 was extracted from the California Hospital Inpatient Mortality Rates and Quality Ratings dataset. Hospitals were categorized by county population, size and type (academic/community). ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer and Bonferroni-corrected t-tests, and independent t-tests were used for statistical comparison of RAMRs across different population groups and hospital types. Results: There was a statewide decline in acute stroke mortality from 11.4 % to 8.6 %, with ischemic stroke mortality decreasing from 24.9 % to 21.6 %. RAMRs decreased from 5.7 % to 5.0 % in community hospitals (p = 0.006), a trend not mirrored in academic settings. Hemorrhagic stroke RAMRs fluctuated, while subarachnoid hemorrhage RAMRs increased, except in academic institutions. Hospitals in the >2M population group had significantly lower RAMRs (p < 0.005) than the 0-500k group. There were no significant RAMR differences between academic and community hospitals across all stroke types. Conclusions: Despite the publication of paradigm-shifting trials, California in-patient stroke mortality only modestly changed, reflecting the complexity of replicating clinical trial outcomes in real-world data. Consistent, longitudinal quality and outcome metrics at state and national levels remain essential for understanding the impact of clinical research and innovation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospital length of stay (HLOS) is a metric of injury severity, resource utilization, and healthcare access. Recent evidence has shown an association between Medicaid insurance and increased HLOS after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aims to validate the association between Medicaid and prolonged HLOS after TBI using the National Trauma Data Bank. METHODS: National Trauma Data Bank Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use Files (2003-2021) were queried for adult patients with TBI using traumatic intracranial injury ICD-9/ICD-10 codes. Patients with complete HLOS, age, sex, race, insurance payor, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, and discharge disposition data were included (N = 552 949). Analyses were stratified by TBI severity using Glasgow Coma Scale. HLOS was coded into Tiers according to percentiles within TBI severity categories (Tier 1: 1-74th; 2: 75-84th; 3: 85-94th; 4: 95-99th). Multivariable logistic regressions evaluated associations between insurance payor and prolonged (Tier 4) HLOS, controlling for sociodemographic, Injury Severity Score, cranial surgery, and discharge disposition variables. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% CI were reported. RESULTS: HLOS Tiers consisted of 0–19, 20–27, 28–46, and ≥47 days (Tiers 1-4, respectively) in severe TBI (N = 103 081); 0–15, 16–21, 22–37, and ≥38 days in moderate TBI (N = 39 904); and 0–7, 8–10, 11–19, and ≥20 days in mild TBI (N = 409 964). Proportion of Medicaid patients increased with Tier ([Tier 1 vs Tier 4] severe: 16.0% vs 36.1%; moderate: 14.1% vs 31.6%; mild TBI: 10.2% vs 17.4%; all P < .001). On multivariable analyses, Medicaid was associated with prolonged HLOS (severe TBI: aOR = 2.35 [2.19-2.52]; moderate TBI: aOR = 2.30 [2.04-2.61]; mild TBI: aOR = 1.75 [1.67-1.83]; reference category: private/commercial). CONCLUSION: This study supports Medicaid as an independent predictor of prolonged HLOS across TBI severity strata. Reasons may include different efficacies in care delivery and reimbursement, which require further investigation. Our findings support the development of discharge coordination pathways and policies for Medicaid patients with TBI.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Despite profound medico-socio-legal consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) from intimate partner violence and domestic violence (IPV/DV), the incidence and acute outcomes of concurrent IPV/DV-TBI are not well understood. We examined US IPV/DV patients with/without TBI (IPV/DV-TBI; non-TBI) using the National Trauma Data Bank. We hypothesized IPV/DV-TBI would be associated with elevated morbidity. METHODS:National Trauma Data Bank Trauma Quality Programs Participant Use Files years 2018 to 2021 were queried for patients aged ≥18 years with IPV/DV using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision external cause codes. TBI/non-TBI was defined using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes. TBI severity was defined by the Glasgow Coma Scale (severe = 3-8, moderate = 9-12, and mild = 13-15). Outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and discharge home. Multivariable regressions examined associations between TBI and outcomes, controlling for sociodemographic and injury severity variables. RESULTS:Of 3891 IPV/DV-related cases, 31.1% were IPV/DV-TBI. Cranial injuries included skull fracture (30.2%), subdural (19.8%), subarachnoid (13.4%), and epidural (1.1%) hemorrhage, contusion (8.1%), and cerebral edema (3.3%). In IPV/DV-TBI, mild/moderate/severe TBI proportions were 87.4%/4.3%/8.3%, with mean LOS 11.5 ± 10.9/14.4 ± 27.3/5.0 ± 7.7-days and mortality 0.9%/22.5%/28.6%, respectively. Compared with non-TBI, IPV/DV-TBI had more female (77.2%/64.6%, P < .001) and fewer Black patients (28.9%/36.6%, P < .001), more ICU admissions (20.9%/7.5%, P < .001) and mortality (4.1%/1.8%, P < .001), longer LOS (5.3 ± 9.5/4.5 ± 6.4-days, P = .008), and decreased discharge home (79.8%/83.8%, P = .005). Multivariable regressions confirmed the associations between TBI and ICU admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.29, 95% CI [3.46-5.33]), mortality (aOR = 3.20 [1.99-5.15]), LOS (adjusted mean difference = +1.22 [0.68-1.76]), and inability to discharge home (aOR = 0.57 [0.46-0.71]). CONCLUSION:One-third of US IPV/DV-related trauma cases have TBI, comprising predominantly female patients. Black patients with IPV/DV-related trauma were overrepresented compared with US census estimates. IPV/DV-TBI had increased ICU admissions, LOS, in-hospital mortality, and inability to discharge home compared with non-TBI. Investigating morbidity risk factors and providing sociomedical resources during acute care are critically needed in this vulnerable population.

Introduction: Postoperative hypopituitarism is one of the most common complications after surgical removal of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). A better understanding of which patients are at increased risk for this complication would inform discussion of surgical risks and postoperative planning.

OBJECTIVE The object of this study was to describe the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in cerebrovascular neurosurgery and to outline a framework for incorporating them into future cerebrovascular research. METHODS Following the standardized PRISMA guidelines, the authors performed a search of the PubMed and Embase databases in February 2023 using filters to investigate six specific cerebrovascular pathologies/procedures: subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, arteriovenous malformation, chronic subdural hematoma, and carotid artery stenosis. PROMs in the identified articles were distinguished and classified as generic, symptom specific, or disease specific. RESULTS A total of 259 studies including 51 PROMs were eligible for inclusion in the review. Most of the PROMs were generic or symptom specific. Only 5 PROMs were disease specific, and all of these pertained to stroke or SAH. CONCLUSIONS There are only a limited number of disease-specific PROMs available for cerebrovascular pathologies and outcomes. Further validation of existing measures in independent cohorts, expanded incorporation of disease-specific PROMs in prospective trials, and the development of new PROMs specific to cerebrovascular conditions are critical to a better understanding of the impact of cerebrovascular diseases and novel therapies on patient lives.

Abstract Preoperative embolization is hypothesized to reduce blood loss and surgical time for meningioma resection, but the impact of embolization on long-term clinical outcomes and molecular profiling of meningiomas is incompletely understood. To address this, we evaluated the impact of embolization on outcomes and molecular features of WHO grade 2 meningiomas. A series of patients with grade 2 meningiomas who underwent resection at our institution from 1997 to 2021 were identified and reviewed. Available DNA methylation profiling and bulk RNA sequencing data were analyzed (n=200). Univariate and multivariate analyses, Cox proportional hazards modeling, and propensity matching (sex, age at surgery, previous surgery, extent of resection, postoperative radiation) were used. A total of 357 patients with WHO grade 2 meningiomas were included, 129 (36.1%) of which underwent preoperative embolization. Mean age at diagnosis was 53.5 years and 61.4% of patients were female. There was no significant difference in time to recurrence with or without embolization for cases with gross total resection (229/357), but embolization was independently associated with improved local control for cases with subtotal resection even after accounting for postoperative radiotherapy (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.32-2.20 p=0.028). The average time to recurrence of atypical WHO grade 2 meningioma was 3.3 years after subtotal resection and 6.7 years after embolization and subtotal resection (p<0.001, propensity matched). The distribution of Merlin-intact vs Immune-enriched vs Hypermitotic meningioma DNA methylation groups was equivalent with versus without embolization, but differential gene expression analysis of RNA sequencing data revealed enrichment of hypoxia related pathways after embolization that were unique to each DNA methylation group. In summary, these data show that preoperative embolization improves local control and reprograms gene expression in atypical WHO grade 2 meningiomas. Additional investigation into the impact of embolization on clinical outcomes and gene expression for meningiomas, especially for higher-grade tumors, is warranted.