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Biomedical subjects

A Franzini

Publications and source records attributed to A Franzini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Low-grade glial tumors in basal ganglia and thalamus: natural history and biological reappraisal.

The natural history of 70 patients affected by low-grade astrocytomas was recorded after the histological diagnosis was obtained by serial stereotactic biopsy. Forty-three percent of these patients died within 3 years. The value of cell kinetics assessment at the time of stereotactic biopsy was investigated, and the labeling index percent may be considered the most accurate prognostic factor in these histologically homogeneous astrocytomas. It has been confirmed that the young age of patients predicts a more favorable course, but the value of this also seems to be linked to and dependent on cell kinetics. These data are discussed in view of the opportunity to perform more aggressive "cytoreductive" treatments in deep brain tumors when these indices support an expected poor prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Trigeminal neuralgia: new surgical strategies.

Presentation of the results of treatment in trigeminal neuralgia, using percutaneous radiofrequency coagulation in 712 cases, percutaneous microcompression in 206 cases, and microvascular decompression in 22 cases. Based on the results the following management strategy is proposed: pts. 65 years or younger = percutaneous balloon compression or, if neuroradiological evidence of neurovascular compression) is given, microvascular decompression. Pts. elder than 65 years = thermorhizotomy. It may be repeated in case of recurrence. If the initial operation was percutaneous compression, the second one should be microvascular decompression or, depending on age or other clinical circumstances of the patient, thermorhizotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Epidural stimulation for peripheral vascular disease: 10 years experience.

105 patients suffering from arteriosclerotic peripheral vascular disease (PVD) underwent epidural spinal stimulation in the last 10 years. Before 1986 the main indication was ischemic pain without any consideration of trophic lesions (19 pts) while afterward the selection of the patients was more accurate in terms of disease's stage. The analysis of the data shows a more favourable results in the second group. Our experience suggest to use this technique in the treatment of patients in Fontaine's stage III and IV without necrosis and large trophic lesions.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1990

Long-term results of percutaneous retrogasserian thermorhizotomy for "essential" trigeminal neuralgia: considerations in 1000 consecutive patients.

Long-term results (average follow-up, 9.3 years) obtained in 1000 consecutive patients suffering from cryptogenetic ("essential") trigeminal neuralgia treated with percutaneous thermorhizotomy are analyzed. Pain relief was obtained in 95% of the treated patients. Permanent morbidity was as follows: masseter weakness in 105 patients; oculomotor palsies in 5 patients; weakening of the corneal reflex in 197 patients, 6 of whom requested an ocular operation for keratitis; and painful dysesthesia in 52 patients, 15 of whom developed a painful anesthesia syndrome. There was a recurrence rate of 18.1%, and a correlation between postoperative sensory deficit and the cure rate was found. These results are discussed and compared to the results obtained with different techniques.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Guided microsurgery by computer-assisted three-dimensional analysis of neuroanatomical data stereotactically acquired.

Stereotactic acquisition of neuroradiological data, followed by identification of cerebral structures and three-dimensional rendering, has been successfully applied to guided microsurgical resection of deep-seated cerebral lesions. The method described utilizes data from magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and digital angiography and allows the surgeon to 'wire frame' the lesion volume and the position of cerebral vessels and structures of high functional relevance. Three-dimensional rendering of surgical instrumentation around the reconstructed anatomy allows for planning and simulation of the trajectory of approach.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Epilepsy course in cerebral gangliogliomas: a study of 16 cases.

From November 1979 to March 1988, 16 patients with cerebral gangliogliomas were investigated and underwent surgery at the Institute Neurologico "C. Besta" of Milan. Their age varied from 11 to 48 years. 15 of these patients presented with a seizure as the first and often the only neurological symptom. This report deals with the epileptologic and neuroradiologic features of these patients before and after surgical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Computer-assisted planning of stereotactic neurosurgical procedures.

To extend the advantages of stereotactic localization to open procedures, a computational device with a graphic output is introduced. It is designed to be used in the operating room, where it processes neuroradiological information (CT, MR, and angiography) acquired under stereotactic conditions. The surgeon can interact with neuroanatomical data, extracting borders of structures of surgical relevance. The resulting sets of outlines, shown tridimensionally within the reference of a stereotactic head holder, are presented with respect to the planned approaching trajectory. Color-coded high-resolution graphics show the relationship between lesions and normal brain structures and guide the surgeon's access to deep-seated lesions through small exposures.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Surgical approach to pineal tumours.

During a period of 10 years (1977-1986) 40 cases of tumour of the pineal region have been treated at the Istituto Neurologico "C. Besta"-of Milan. Out of these 40 cases, 27 (67.5%) were in the paediatric (10-15 years) or juvenile (15-20 years) age at the time of operation. Since 1983 a specific diagnostic and therapeutic protocol has been adopted and thereafter direct surgical removal of the tumour was performed only when the neuroradiological investigations were highly suggestive of a benign extrinsic lesion. Sixteen cases in this series underwent direct surgical removal; in the remaining 24 cases stereotactic biopsy of the tumour was performed in the first instance. On the basis of the histological diagnosis obtained by this procedure surgical excision of the tumour (9 cases) or radiotherapy (15 cases) was then performed. 25 cases underwent surgical removal of the lesion. In all the cases the infratentorial supracerebellar approach as introduced by Krause and then modified by Stein was adopted. On analysis of the data of this series it was observed that in 25% of the cases completely benign resectable tumours were found; in 25% of the cases astrocytoma (grade I-II) which could be treated at least by partial removal were present; in 30% of the cases radiosensitive lesions were encountered. In the remaining 20% of the cases highly malignant tumours were found which should be treated only by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Cell kinetic investigations in brain tumors studied by serial stereotactic biopsy.

Between July 1983 and July 1986, 109 consecutive patients affected by brain tumors and selected for stereotactic biopsy underwent in vitro investigation of cell kinetics. The potential proliferative activity of these different neoplasms, evaluated as in vitro 3H-thymidine labeling index (LI), has been determined in 46 mature astrocytomas, 19 anaplasic astrocytomas, 25 glioblastomas, 5 cystic craniopharyngiomas, 6 metastatic tumors, 4 primary C.N.S. lymphomas, 3 pineal germinomas and one choroid plexus papilloma. The relevance of LI on prognosis has been evaluated in 35 patients affected by glial tumors with adequate follow-up longer than 2 years. This retrospective study allowed us to demonstrate the prognostic value of LI in mature astrocytoma and anaplasic astrocytoma series. The feasibility of LI determination by in vitro procedure has been demonstrated also in non-neuroectodermal tumors. In craniopharyngioma the LI investigations allowed to demonstrate a peculiar topographic arrangement of cells in S phase.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Serial stereotactic biopsy of brain stem expanding lesions. Considerations on 45 consecutive cases.

Fourty-five patients affected by brain stem expanding lesions underwent serial stereotactic biopsy between 1978 and 1986. The definitive histological diagnosis allowed the definitive treatment of extrinsic tumours and non-neoplastic lesions. In patients affected from glial tumours the serial stereotactic biopsy allowed the histological grading and the definition of the growth modalities at the superior boundaries of the tumours. These data have been utilized to guide the choice of treatment. The future perspectives of stereotactic biopsies are discussed in view of the therapeutic results obtained in this series and in other series reported in the literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cell kinetics and multimodal prognostic evaluation in glial tumours investigated by serial stereotactic biopsy.

A retrospective evaluation of the prognostic value of different parameters available in patients affected by glial tumours and submitted to serial stereotactic biopsy is presented. The series investigated includes thirty-three untreated patients with proven brain gliomas submitted to stereotactic biopsy. All patients have been clinically and neuroradiologically monitored for three years. The factors investigated belong either to the preoperative data (clinical history and symptomatology, CT pattern and volume of the lesion) or to histological and biological data obtained after the stereotactic biopsy. The results suggest the need of a multimodal prognostic evaluation in glial tumours and particularly stressed is the accuracy of prognostic indications derived from cell kinetic studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Complementarity of x-ray computed tomography of staged stereotaxic biopsies and of stereo-electroencephalography in the spatial definition of intracranial lesions].

This study concerns 180 patients (132 M; 48 F) (age: 2 to 69 years; m: 33 years) who underwent stereotactic procedures according to the methodology of Talairach and Szikla. Such procedures (stereotactic and stereoscopic angiography in all cases, and ventriculography in 81%) should permit a correct spatial definition of intracranial lesions. The informations provided by the angiography (normal in 7%) and by the ventriculography (normal in 11%) are complementary to those yielded by the TDM and permit an easier and safe stereotactic approach to the lesions. In 43% of patients the lesions were deep-seated (basal ganglia: 24; sellar region: 19; thalamo-peduncular: 13; brain stem: 6, etc.). The histological examination showed: low-grade gliomas in 43%; glioblastomas in 21%; non tumoral lesions in 17%. A precise diagnosis couldn't be obtained in 3.8%. The data provided by the stereo-EEG (in 11 patients suffering also of severe drug-resistant partial epilepsy) did not permit, alone, an histological diagnosis, excepted when electrodes explored a solid tumor. Two patients had a neurological impairment, and two died (one for extracerebral reasons). The authors consider that the TDM data and the informations given by the stereotactic procedures are complementary for obtaining valuable informations on the spatial organization of intracranial lesions and choosing the best treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Methodology and prognostic reliability of stereotaxic biopsy in tumors of glial origin].

Between 1978 and 1984, 227 patients affected from glial tumors underwent serial stereotactic biopsy. Correct prognostic indications have been obtained in 85% of the entire series. In 10.5%, the stereotactic procedure provided only the diagnosis of the nature of the tumor, while the histological grading and prognosis remained unknown. The operative mortality was 2.6% and the permanent morbidity included 3.9% of patients who complained about worsening of the preoperative neurological conditions. The methodology of stereotactic biopsy is described in detail. The results are discussed with particular reference to the prognostic value of serial stereotactic biopsies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Three-dimensional reconstruction of neuroradiological data within a stereotactic frame of reference for surgery of visible targets.

Three-dimensional information obtained with neuroradiological exams performed under stereotactic conditions is displayed on a surgical console within the graphic reconstruction of the geometry of stereotactic frames. Planning of convenient probe trajectories can be carried out taking into account all data derived from different diagnostic techniques.

Computer Graphics↗