We report a case of rhombencephalitis infection by Listeria monocytogenes in a 66-year-old man with cirrhosis. The CSF analysis indicated L. monocytogenes as the most likely pathogen. Blood and CSF culture were positive to L. monocytogenes and MRI findings were suggestive of rhomboencephalitis. The treatment was started empirically and then modified when the culture results were available. The ...

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a readily reachable body fluid that is reflective of the underlying pathological state of the central nervous system (CNS). Hence it has been targeted for biomarker discovery for a variety of neurological disorders. CSF is also the major route for seeding metastases of CNS malignancies and its analysis could be informative for diagnosis and risk stratification of br...

When Policy Topic is covered Stereotactic radiosurgery using a gamma or LINAC unit may be considered medically necessary for the following indications:  arteriovenous malformations;  acoustic neuromas;  pituitary adenomas;  non-resectable, residual, or recurrent meningiomas;  craniopharyngiomas;  glomus jugulare tumors;  solitary or multiple brain metastases in patients having good perfo...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant of the primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms, accounting for nearly 80% of all primary brain tumors and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy is proving to be a fertile ground for next-generation GBM therapy, with large translational research projects and clinical trials currently underway. One particularly pr...

When Policy Topic is covered Stereotactic radiosurgery using a gamma or LINAC unit may be considered medically necessary for the following indications:  arteriovenous malformations;  acoustic neuromas;  pituitary adenomas;  non-resectable, residual, or recurrent meningiomas;  craniopharyngiomas;  glomus jugulare tumors;  solitary or multiple brain metastases in patients having good perfo...

The laboratory examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) continues to play an important role in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of various disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). The major conditions currently include, as they have in the past, infectious diseases, neoplastic processes, multiple sclerosis, other demyelinating disorders, and intracerebral hemorrhage. Recent publicatio...

Patient Selection Criteria Coverage for the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using a gamma or linear-accelerator (LINAC) will be considered when any of the following criteria are met:  Arteriovenous malformations;  Acoustic neuromas;  Pituitary adenomas;  Non-resectable, residual or recurrent meningiomas;  Craniopharyngiomas;  Glomus jugulare tumors;  Solitary or multiple brain met...

Background/introduction While most brain tumors do not have an intact bloodbrain barrier (BBB), vascular barriers in the tumor and the surrounding intact brain tissue are major challenges for the use of chemotherapy for CNS malignancies. The permeability of brain tumor vessels can be highly heterogeneous, and factors such as high interstitial pressures can prevent agents from reaching an effect...