Brazil’s healthcare system has made significant progress in recent years but still faces major challenges. In this editorial, we examine the greatest flaws and achievements of Brazil’s healthcare system, focusing on population coverage, quality metrics, spending over the last ten years, and estimates of per capita spending over the next decade. We discuss the role of the government, private sector, and civil society in shaping Brazil’s healthcare landscape and provide recommendations for improvement. Despite the challenges, Brazil has made impressive strides in healthcare, such as the implementation of the family health program, which has improved primary care access and reduced infant mortality rates. However, much work remains to be done, and Brazil must prioritize investment in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, and the integration of digital technologies to ensure universal access to quality care for all.

The objective of this study is to explore the use of ChatGPT (Chat-Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) in neurosurgery and its potential impact on the field. The authors aim to discuss, through a systematic review of current literature, how this rising new artificial intelligence (AI) technology may prove to be a useful tool in the future, weighing its potential benefits and limitations. The authors conducted a comprehensive and systematic literature review of the use of ChatGPT and its applications in healthcare and different neurosurgery topics. Through a systematic review of the literature, with a search strategy using the databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase, we analyzed the advantages and limitations of using ChatGPT in neurosurgery and evaluated its potential impact. ChatGPT has demonstrated promising results in various applications, such as natural language processing, language translation, and text summarization. In neurosurgery, ChatGPT can assist in different areas such as surgical planning, image recognition, medical diagnosis, patient care, and scientific production. A total of 128 articles were retrieved from databases, where the final 22 articles were included for thorough analysis. The studies reviewed demonstrate the potential of AI and deep learning (DL), through language models such as ChatGPT, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of neurosurgical procedures, as well as diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes across various medical specialties, including neurosurgery. There are, however, limitations to its use, including the need for large datasets and the potential for errors in the output, which most authors concur will need human verification for the final application. Our search demonstrated the potential that ChatGPT holds for the present and future, in accordance with the studies’ authors’ findings herein analyzed and expert opinions. Further research and development are required to fully understand its capabilities and limitations. AI technology can serve as a useful tool to augment human intelligence; however, it is essential to use it in a responsible and ethical manner.

Objective To evaluate the quality of studies reporting clinical and surgical outcomes of meningiomas and trigeminal schwannomas treated with the endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA), and to develop a Reporting Guideline to enhance reproducibility, data pooling and comparability. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to July 2025. We included studies reporting patients with meningiomas or trigeminal schwannomas that were treated with ETOA. Reporting quality was assessed across nine domains: (1) patient baseline characteristics; (2) imaging methods and tumor features; (3) definitions of pivotal concepts; (4) neurosurgical/interventional team characteristics; (5) anesthetic protocol; (6) surgical procedure details; (7) clinical and procedural outcomes, including adverse events; (8) retreatment details; and (9) funding and conflicts of interest. Additionally, baseline characteristics of the included studies were extracted to contextualize our analysis. Results Thirteen observational studies comprising 310 patients (81.6% meningiomas, 18.4% trigeminal schwannomas) were included. Critical appraisal revealed consistent shortcomings across all nine domains, highlighting major gaps in the current literature. The main gaps included the lack of reporting previous comorbidities, tumor classification, clear definitions of perioperative complications, morbidity, and mortality, as well as anesthesia related details. Additional gaps included limited reporting on symptom duration, elective versus emergency status, intraoperative and postoperative complications – particularly hemorrhage, mortality, and its underlying causes. Based on these findings, we developed the Endoscopic Transorbital Approach Reporting Guideline, comprising 70 items across the nine domains, designed to standardize reporting of surgical and clinical outcomes. Conclusion This systematic review revealed substantial methodological and reporting deficiencies, which undermine the reliability of current evidence and constrain the advancement of knowledge in this field. The proposed Reporting Guideline provides a structured framework to address these shortcomings and to improve transparency, reproducibility, and comparability in future research, ultimately strengthening the evidence base and improving patient care.

Introduction Lymphangioma is a rare congenital vascular malformation of the head and neck region isolated from the systemic circulation. It has a benign etiology, and represents 1–3% of all orbital tumors. These hamartomas often present in the pediatric population with a slightly female predilection. They have a lymphocytic composition, and may increase in size with episodes of viral infection, causing proptosis. Discussion The management of this lesion is controversial, hardly curative, and depends on the clinical presentation. The treatment options include partial surgical resection of the major cyst, needle aspiration, surgical debulking, systemic steroids, sildenafil, intralesional injection of the sclerosing agents, and local radiotherapy. Case Report In the present report, we describe an uncommon case of lymphangioma in a 6-year-old female who was first submitted to neurosurgery for tumor resection and received sildenafil therapy later, with promising results. Conclusion The treatment of orbital lymphangiomas remains a controversial topic, and the use of sildenafil along with needle aspiration and microsurgical removal is a viable option of treatment. However, many issues, such as the ideal duration of the therapy, the dosage regimen and the recurrence rate, still remain unclear. Our case report adds promising data on this pathology, even though larger trials are needed to properly elucidate the remaining questions. Introdução Linfangioma é uma malformação vascular rara congênita da cabeça e da região cervical isolada da circulação sistêmica. Apresenta uma etiologia benigna e representa 1–3% de todos tumores orbitais. Estes hematomas geralmente se apresentam na população pediátrica com uma pequena predileção pela população feminina. Têm uma composição linfocítica e podem aumentar em tamanho com episódios de infecções virai causando proptose. Discussão O manejo destas lesões é controverso, dificilmente curativo e depende na apresentação clínica. Opções de tratamento compreende ressecção cirúrgica parcial do cisto de maior volume, aspiração por agulha de punção, redução cirúrgica, esteroides sistêmicos, Sildenafil, administração intralesional de agentes esclerosantes, e radioterapia local. Relato de Caso No presente relato, descrevemos um caso incomum de linfangioma em uma paciente feminina de seis anos de idade, inicialmente submetida a procedimento neurocirúrgica para ressecção tumoral, com posterior terapia com Sildenafil, apresentando resultados promissores. Conclusão O tratamento de linfangiomas de órbita permanece um tópico controverso, e o uso de Sildenafil em conjunto com aspiração por agulha de punção e ressecção microcirúrgica é uma opção viável de tratamento. Entretanto, muitas quesitos tais como tempo de terapia, regime de dose e taxa de recorrência permanecem incertos. Nosso relato de caso contribui com dados promissores referente a esta patologia, ainda que ensaios maiores são necessários para elucidação apropriada acerca das questões pendentes.

Objectives The authors of the present study intend to describe a straightforward protocol for normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis and management, with the employment of a multidisciplinary team approach effort. Methods Using a strict methodological approach for initial diagnosis, taking into consideration occupational therapy and physical therapy assessment, the authors have set out to elaborate a simple protocol for suspicion and, once diagnosed, treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus. We have used the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and walking assessment that included speed, independence, and distance (SID), 10 m walk test, TUG (timed up and go) evaluation, 6-minute Walk Test, MiniBESTest, as the main factors for pre and post lumbar drainage assessment, after which, the alternatives were deliberated and followed, or not, by ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. Results The authors have described a protocol, consisting of ten easy steps, which involves a multidisciplinary team, including occupational therapy and physical therapy professionals, as well as neurologists and neurosurgeons for improved and objective assessment prior to insertion of lumbar drain and, thereafter, detecting the population at most benefit for ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. We have described the Ten Step Approach for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus management, including from initial clinical presentation and imaging, to pre and post lumbar drainage, for lastly deciding upon necessity for ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. Conclusions A straightforward protocol for normal pressure hydrocephalus seems not only feasible, but simple to implement in most neurosurgical departments, with good accuracy of prediction of lumbar drainage assessment to shunting outcomes.