Craniopharyngiomas are locally aggressive, rare tumors that pose significant treatment challenges and often result in permanent neurological deficits. Since the discovery of the BRAF V600E driver mutation in papillary craniopharyngioma, several case reports have reported on the efficacy of BRAF inhibitors or the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in treating papillary craniopharyngiomas with this mutation. However, the efficacy, safety, and optimal utilization of this emerging therapy for craniopharyngiomas remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review of published articles in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library-CENTRAL, focusing on the efficacy and safety of BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy in papillary craniopharyngiomas with the BRAF V600E mutation, covering publications from inception through June 2024. A total of 20 case reports and series involving 22 patients were included in the analysis. Combination therapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors was employed in 81.8% of cases. Significant tumor reduction (≥80%) was observed in 18 of 21 cases, regardless of radiation therapy history, pretargeted therapy tumor volume, and tumor composition. The duration of tumor minimization ranged from 1 to 24 months (median: 5 months). Fever was the most commonly reported adverse event (28.6%), followed by dermatological symptoms (19%). Tumor recurrence was noted in 4 of 6 patients who did not receive additional treatment following the completion of targeted therapy; however, targeted therapy was effective in the cases in which it was resumed. This study provides critical insights into optimizing treatment strategies for papillary craniopharyngiomas and underscores the potential role of targeted therapies in enhancing patient outcomes.

Fully endoscopic microvascular decompression is increasingly being used to treat hemifacial spasm; however, its efficacy must be validated by comparing it with conventional microscopic microvascular decompression. In this study, we aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of microsurgical and endoscopic microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm and discuss the usefulness and risks of endoscopic treatment. A total of 40 patients with hemifacial spasm were retrospectively evaluated at a single institution between 2016 and 2022, including 33 patients who underwent microscopic microvascular decompression (microvascular decompression group) and 7 patients who underwent fully endoscopic microvascular decompression group, which was chosen for patients with sufficient space in the cerebellopontine cistern for endoscopic manipulation. Statistical analyses of the microvascular decompression group and the endoscopic microvascular decompression group were performed to compare patient background and surgical outcomes. No significant differences in age, sex, or affected side were observed between the 2 groups. At the 6-month follow-up, substantial improvement was observed in more than 85% of the patients in each group. Delayed facial palsy and mild lower cranial nerve palsy, such as hoarseness, were more common in the endoscopic microvascular decompression group than in the microvascular decompression group, although there were no significant differences in the rate of complications between the 2 groups. All complications were alleviated within 3 months after surgery. During endoscopic microvascular decompression, interference between the endoscope and instruments can cause neural damage owing to the limited space along the petrosal surface of the cerebellum. Our results suggest that endoscopic procedures cannot always be used as a substitute for conventional microscopic microvascular decompression.

ELAPSS score is commonly utilized for predicting the growth of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. However, its application is unsuitable for small aneurysms with high demand for growth prediction. Consequently, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy of semi-quantitative assessment using the ELAPSS score and hemodynamic parameters using computational fluid dynamics in small aneurysms. A prospective observational study from January 2013 to February 2022 included 185 patients with 215 unruptured aneurysms with a maximum diameter of 3-5 mm. Aneurysms were classified into stable (186 aneurysms) and growth (29 aneurysms) groups based on repeated images. We calculated high shear area ratios, high shear concentration ratios, and flow concentration ratios as hemodynamic parameters that we have already reported to be associated with small aneurysm growth in our previous study. The characteristics associated with the growth of small aneurysms were statistically investigated with morphological variables and hemodynamic parameters. The ELAPSS score was also calculated for the same aneurysm group to determine whether the growth risk was sufficiently assessed. In morphological variables, no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups. As for the hemodynamic parameters, the growth group had a significantly lower flow concentration ratio (0.61 vs 0.66, p = 0.016), lower high shear area ratio (0.28 vs 0.33, p < 0.001), and a higher high shear concentration ratio (6.39 vs 5.01, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the ELAPSS scores between the 2 groups. When limited to small aneurysms, computational fluid dynamics may offer more enhanced predictive capabilities compared to the ELAPSS score for identifying growth tendencies.

Stent retrievers, including the novel Tigertriever, are important in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke due to a proximal large-vessel occlusion within the anterior circulation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the Tigertriever compared to self-expanding stent retrievers like EmboTrap, Solitaire, Trevo, or Tron. Patients treated at a stroke center for intracranial vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation between August 2022 and August 2024 were evaluated. The primary outcome was a modified first-pass effect, defined as a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade of 2b-3 after the first pass. Secondary outcomes included the first-pass effect, device-related serious adverse events, embolization in new territory, and hemorrhagic complications within 24 hours post-procedure. Data from 104 hemispheres in 103 patients were analyzed (24 in the Tigertriever group and 80 in the stent-retriever group). The Tigertriever group demonstrated a higher modified first-pass effect (70.8% vs. 52.5%; adjusted odds ratio 3.17; 95% confidence interval 1.06-9.47; p = 0.02). Although not statistically significant, vessel dissection (0% vs. 3.8%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (20.8% vs. 32.5%), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (4.2% vs. 12.5%) within 24 hours post-procedure were lower in the Tigertriever group. No significant differences were observed in the first-pass effect or embolization in the new territory between the 2 groups. The Tigertriever might be effective for anterior circulation intracranial vessel occlusion, achieving a higher rate of modified first-pass effect. It might also be associated with minimal serious procedural complications, indicating its safety profile.

Clinical evidence for adding direct surgery to the management of patients with large vessel occlusion after mechanical thrombectomy failure is limited. We investigated which patients would benefit from the additional surgery. We retrospectively examined factors influencing mechanical thrombectomy success and the outcomes of patients receiving additional direct surgery. Direct surgery was performed in patients younger than 75 years with modified Rankin Scale 0-2 and with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging-Clinical mismatch in the middle cerebral artery area on post-mechanical thrombectomy magnetic resonance imaging. To convert the hyperdense artery sign into an objective index, the ratio of the occluded to the normal vessel in Hounsfield Units was calculated (defined as the hyperdense artery sign ratio). A total of 152 patients were included in this study; the median patient age was 77.0 years; 13 patients (8.5%) had posterior circulation occlusion, and effective recanalization was confirmed in 124 patients (82.8%). Multivariable analysis showed the factors significantly associated with successful recanalization to be male gender (p = 0.0020) and a higher hyperdense artery sign ratio (p = 0.0012). The cut-off value of the hyperdense artery sign ratio was 1.05. Additional direct surgery was performed in 6 of 28 patients with mechanical thrombectomy failure. In 5 of these patients, recanalization was not successful even with direct embolectomy, and bypass was added. Patients who underwent direct surgery had better modified Rankin Scale scores at discharge than those who did not (p = 0.0405). The hyperdense artery sign ratio was a predictor of mechanical thrombectomy success; if the hyperdense artery sign ratio was less than 1.05, mechanical thrombectomy was often unsuccessful, and an early conversion to direct surgery was deemed beneficial.