Background: Post-operative delayed hormone dysfunction (DHD) in patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) is highly variable and is predicted based on limited evidence. This study was undertaken to assess the likelihood of developing new DHD and its relation to the extent of tumor resection and recurrence. Methods: Four hundred fifty-five prospectively collected patient files were reviewed from our Program’s database. Inclusion criteria: NFPA; underwent surgery; and minimum follow-up of two years. Tumor recurrence was correlated with DHD (starting one year post-operatively) based on standardized annual imaging and hormone testing. Results: Eighty-nine patients met our inclusion criteria: 39 males and 50 females; mean follow-up was 4.3yrs (ranging from 2 to 11yrs). With no post-op residual tumor, the probability of developing DHD was only 7% by six years; no patient in this group developed DHD after three years of follow-up. In contrast, by six years, the probability of DHD was 33% in patients with residual stable tumor, and 54% in those with tumor recurrence/growth. Conclusions: By six years, approximately one third of patients with incomplete resection, and over half with tumor regrowth, will likely develop DHD. In contrast, the risk of DHD with complete tumor resection is <10% and, when seen, occurs within three years of surgery.

Background: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are treated using endovascular treatment or microsurgical clipping. The safety and efficacy of treatments have not been compared in a randomized trial. Methods: We randomly allocated clipping or coiling to patients with 3-25mm UIAs judged treatable both ways. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as: initial failure of aneurysm treatment, intracranial hemorrhage or residual aneurysm on one year imaging. Secondary outcomes included neurological deficits following treatment, hospitalization >5 days, overall morbidity and mortality and angiographic results at one year. Results: 136 patients were enrolled from 2010 through 2016 and 134 patients were treated. The one-year primary outcome, available for 104 patients, was reached in 5/48 (10.4% (4.5%-22.2%)) patients allocated surgical clipping, and 10/56 (17.9% (10.0%-29.8%)) patients allocated endovascular coiling (OR: 0.54 (0.13, 1.90), P=0.40). Morbidity and mortality (mRS>2) at one year occurred in 2/48 (4.2% (1.2%-14.0%)) and 2/56 (3.6% (1.0%-12.1%)) patients allocated clipping and coiling respectively. New neurological deficits (15/65 vs 6/69; OR: 3.12 (1.05, 10.57), P=0.031), and hospitalizations beyond 5 days (30/65 vs 6/69; OR: 8.85 (3.22,28.59), P=0.0001) were more frequent after clipping. Conclusions: Surgical clipping led to greater initial treatment-related morbidity than endovascular coiling. At one year, the superior efficacy of clipping remains unproven and in need of randomized evidence.

Several evidence-informed treatment guidelines recommend against the use of typical antipsychotics in patients with Parkinson’s disease; of the atypical antipsychotics, clozapine and quetiapine are preferred. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency with which potentially inappropriate antipsychotics are dispensed to older adults in Nova Scotia who are on levodopa-containing medications. In this cohort, 59.9% were dispensed a preferred atypical antipsychotic and 12.6% a potentially harmful typical antipsychotic. Our results suggest that potentially inappropriate prescribing practices are common in the neuropsychiatric management of patients with parkinsonism and that there is an opportunity for education and improvement in prescribing practices.

Background: Down syndrome is the most common inherited disorder. Some patients develop craniocervical instability. Existing screening guidelines were developed prior to direct imaging of the neuraxis. We present parameters for potential instability using dynamic MRI of the craniocervical junction. Methods: A retrospective review from 2001 – 2015 was carried out. Patients were symptomatic if they had myelopathy or signal changes at the craniocervical junction. Radiographic measurements were taken. Data analysis was performed with SPSS. Results: 36 patients were included. Symptomatic patients had smaller CCD (9.4 mm vs 13.8 mm; p=0.003) and greater ADI (4.4mm vs 3.0 mm; p=0.01) on resting MRI . During dynamic imaging, symptomatic patients had greater changes in CCD (5.2 vs 2.7 mm; p <0.001) and ADI (2.8 vs 1.3 mm; p=0.04). These patients were also more likely to have a bony anomaly (0.5 vs 0.13; p=0.03). Conclusions: This study identifies parameters that can be used to distinguish unstable patients. A CCD of less than 5 mm or ADI greater than 4.4 mm on static MRI; change greater than 3 mm in ADI or 5mm on CCD during dynamic MRI; or any bony abnormality warrants further investigation. Asymptomatic patients should be followed although most do not progress.