Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Simultaneous endoscopic endonasal treatment of a GH-secreting PitNET and paraclinoid aneurysm in a hybrid operating room - 2D operative video.
Gómez-Amador JL, et al
Researchers report the successful simultaneous treatment of a growth hormone-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) and a nearby brain aneurysm in a single endoscopic procedure performed through the nose, using a hybrid operating room equipped with both surgical and endovascular imaging capabilities. The patient, a 61-year-old woman with acromegaly caused by the hormone-secreting tumor, also harbored a paraclinoid aneurysm that posed a serious rupture risk if the tumor were removed without first addressing the vascular abnormality. The surgical team used balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery, real-time angiographic roadmapping, and direct endoscopic visualization to safely clip the aneurysm before proceeding to complete tumor removal in the same operative session. At three-month follow-up, the patient achieved full biochemical remission of acromegaly, with imaging confirming complete aneurysm occlusion and total tumor resection and no surgical complications. This case demonstrates that hybrid operating rooms enable complex combined neurovascular and endocrine procedures to be performed safely in a single stage, sparing patients the risks and burdens of two separate operations. The findings underscore the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration between neurosurgical and endovascular teams when managing rare but high-risk combinations of intracranial lesions.
Surgical neurology international
Source →A case of left adrenal echinococcosis misdiagnosed as a left renal cyst: Case report.
Guo X, et al
A case report published in Medicine describes a 10-year-old patient in western China who was initially misdiagnosed with a simple renal cyst after imaging revealed a 6.5 cm × 5.5 cm cystic mass near the left kidney. All standard laboratory tests returned normal results, leading clinicians to overlook rarer causes of cystic lesions. During laparoscopic surgery, the cyst was discovered to originate from the adrenal gland, and subsequent histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis as adrenal echinococcosis — a parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus larvae. This case highlights the diagnostic pitfalls of relying solely on routine imaging when evaluating cystic masses, particularly in regions where echinococcosis is endemic, such as western China. Clinicians are urged to include serological testing and thorough differential diagnosis in their workup to prevent misdiagnosis of this rare but treatable condition.
Medicine
Source →A retrospective review of spinal masses at a South African tertiary neurosurgery unit in Durban (2020-2024).
Deveduthras N, et al
Researchers at a South African tertiary neurosurgery unit in Durban conducted a retrospective study examining the types, surgical management, and outcomes of spinal masses treated between 2020 and 2024, addressing a significant gap in local epidemiological data. The study included 28 patients with a mean age of approximately 38 years, and found that schwannomas (28.6%) and meningiomas (21.4%) were the most frequently encountered spinal tumours. Laminectomy was the predominant surgical procedure, used in over 60% of cases, followed by laminoplasty and spinal fusion. Statistical analyses revealed that younger patients tended to have longer follow-up periods and different tumour profiles compared to older patients, and that the choice of surgical intervention was significantly associated with the type of mass. These findings provide a foundational dataset for understanding spinal mass distribution in South Africa and may help guide more tailored diagnostic and treatment strategies for future patients in similar resource settings.
Journal of the colleges of medicine of South Africa
Source →Analysis of the Influence of Demographic, Clinical and Physical Factors on the Occurrence of Ocular Complications After Ruthenium-106 and Iodine-125 Brachytherapy as Well as Proton Therapy of Uveal Melanoma.
Jarczak J, et al
Researchers from the University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, conducted a retrospective study examining how demographic, clinical, and physical factors influence the development of ocular complications in 300 uveal melanoma patients treated with three different radiation therapies: ruthenium-106 brachytherapy, iodine-125 brachytherapy, and proton therapy between 2014 and 2016. Using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis over a mean follow-up of nearly 89 months, the team identified distinct risk profiles for six major complications including cataract, maculopathy, retinopathy, optic neuropathy, secondary glaucoma, and vitreous hemorrhage. Iodine-125 brachytherapy was associated with a significantly higher risk of multiple complications, including maculopathy, retinopathy, optic neuropathy, and secondary glaucoma, compared to other modalities. Younger patient age was a recurring risk factor across several complications, while tumor characteristics such as location near the macula or optic disc, greater thickness, and mushroom shape also elevated complication risk. These findings provide clinicians with actionable guidance for personalizing treatment selection and post-treatment monitoring strategies based on individual patient and tumor profiles, ultimately aiming to reduce vision-threatening side effects in uveal melanoma survivors.
Cancers
Source →Anterior Skull Base Metastasis From Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report.
Thapa M, et al
Researchers report a rare case of a 58-year-old man who developed a skull base metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), a cancer that only spreads distantly in 1–4% of patients and almost never reaches the skull base. Four years after completing multimodal treatment for an aggressive tall-cell variant of PTC, the patient presented with symptoms including nasal drip, loss of smell, drooping eyelid, and eye protrusion, prompting imaging that revealed a large tumor invading the sinuses, the cribriform plate, and the left orbit. Biopsy confirmed the mass as metastatic PTC, and the clinical team treated it with endoscopic surgical debulking followed by stereotactic radiotherapy. This combined approach successfully achieved local tumor control while preserving the patient's neurological function, with stable disease confirmed at seven-month follow-up. The case highlights that aggressive variants of PTC can recur in unexpected locations years after initial treatment, and that clinicians should consider this diagnosis in patients presenting with sinonasal and orbital symptoms. Early recognition and a multidisciplinary surgical and radiation strategy are critical to achieving good outcomes in such rare presentations.
Ear, nose, & throat journal
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