Department for Neurology, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.

In order to determine possible differences in serum gangliosides content and composition before and after surgical removal of tumor, gangliosides isolated from preoperative and postoperative sera of patients with brain tumors were analyzed. Serum samples were collected from patients with glioblastoma, meningioma, acoustic neurinoma, haemangioma, oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma, one week before and one week after surgical removal of the tumor. Serum gangliosides were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography and laser densitometry. Results showed changes of total gangliosides concentrations in analyzed postoperative sera comparing to preoperative sera. There was not a significant difference in ganglioside pattern of preoperative vs. preoperative sera. However, a postoperative decreased proportion of ganglioside GD3 was observed in sera derived from patients with complete tumor removal. The results of this study indicate that comparative quantitative and compositional analysis of both preoperative and postoperative serum gangliosides may provide useful information concerning tumor progression, surgical success and prognosis.

Share This

Hull and East Yorkshire Eye Hospital, Fountain Street, Anlaby Road, Kingston-upon-hull, Yorkshire HU3 2JZ, United Kingdom.

A 46-year-old woman presented with a peripheral vasoproliferative tumor. The tumor was treated with one session of photodynamic therapy with 6 mg/m2 body surface area of verteporfin and a dose of 100 J/cm2 delivered in 83 seconds. At the 10-month follow-up examination, involution of the vasoproliferative tumor was seen with improvement of best-corrected visual acuity to 20/80. Photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment option in cases of exudative vasoproliferative tumors. Great variability exists in the parameters used to treat vasoproliferative tumors.

Share This

Paediatric Brain Tumour Program, Division of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

Among 1,289 infants identified from this literature review, the most common histological diagnoses are astrocytoma (30.5%), medulloblastoma (12.2%), ependymoma (11.1%), and choroid plexus tumors (11%). Most tumors are supratentorial (65%). The most important prognostic factors are histology (malignant vs. benign) and extent of resection. Significant differences are noted for some tumor types by comparison with older children, for example in the aggressive behavior of low grade gliomas and the chemosensitivity of some high grade gliomas. While new techniques of radiation have been introduced in the management of infants, there is still reluctance to consider radiotherapy in this age group. Copyright 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

More :
Read the rest…

Share This