Tag: brain tumor surgery

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Intraoperative ultrasound and magnetic resonance comparative analysis in brain tumor surgery: a valuable tool to flatten ultrasound’s learning curve

Acta Neurochirurgica (2024) 166:337

Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) is a profitable tool for neurosurgical procedures’ assistance, especially in neuro-oncology. It is a rapid, ergonomic and reproducible technique. However, its known handicap is a steep learning curve for neurosurgeons. Here, we describe an interesting postoperative analysis that provides extra feedback after surgery, accelerating the learning process.

Method We conducted a descriptive retrospective unicenter study including patients operated from intra-axial brain tumors using neuronavigation (Curve, Brainlab) and IOUS (BK-5000, BK medical) guidance. All patients had preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) prior to tumor resection. During surgery, 3D neuronavigated IOUS studies (n3DUS) were obtained through craniotomy N13C5 transducer’s integration to the neuronavigation system. At least two n3DUS studies were obtained: prior to tumor resection and at the resection conclusion. A postoperative MRI was performed within 48 h. MRI and n3DUS studies were posteriorly fused and analyzed with Elements (Brainlab) planning software, permitting two comparative analyses: preoperative MRI compared to pre-resection n3DUS and postoperative MRI to post-resection n3DUS. Cases with incomplete MRI or n3DUS studies were withdrawn from the study.

Results From April 2022 to March 2024, 73 patients were operated assisted by IOUS. From them, 39 were included in the study. Analyses comparing preoperative MRI and pre-resection n3DUS showed great concordance of tumor volume (p < 0,001) between both modalities. Analysis comparing postoperative MRI and post-resection n3DUS also showed good concordance in residual tumor volume (RTV) in cases where gross total resection (GTR) was not achieved (p < 0,001). In two cases, RTV detected on MRI that was not detected intra-operatively with IOUS could be reviewed in detail to recheck its appearance.

Conclusions Post-operative comparative analyses between IOUS and MRI is a valuable tool for novel ultrasound users, as it enhances the amount of feedback provided by cases and could accelerate the learning process, flattening this technique’s learning curve.

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Intraoperative ultrasound and magnetic resonance comparative analysis in brain tumor surgery: a valuable tool to flatten ultrasound’s learning curve

Acta Neurochirurgica (2024) 166:337

Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) is a profitable tool for neurosurgical procedures’ assistance, especially in neuro-oncology. It is a rapid, ergonomic and reproducible technique. However, its known handicap is a steep learning curve for neurosurgeons. Here, we describe an interesting postoperative analysis that provides extra feedback after surgery, accelerating the learning process.

Method We conducted a descriptive retrospective unicenter study including patients operated from intra-axial brain tumors using neuronavigation (Curve, Brainlab) and IOUS (BK-5000, BK medical) guidance. All patients had preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) prior to tumor resection. During surgery, 3D neuronavigated IOUS studies (n3DUS) were obtained through craniotomy N13C5 transducer’s integration to the neuronavigation system. At least two n3DUS studies were obtained: prior to tumor resection and at the resection conclusion. A postoperative MRI was performed within 48 h. MRI and n3DUS studies were posteriorly fused and analyzed with Elements (Brainlab) planning software, permitting two comparative analyses: preoperative MRI compared to pre-resection n3DUS and postoperative MRI to post-resection n3DUS. Cases with incomplete MRI or n3DUS studies were withdrawn from the study.

Results From April 2022 to March 2024, 73 patients were operated assisted by IOUS. From them, 39 were included in the study. Analyses comparing preoperative MRI and pre-resection n3DUS showed great concordance of tumor volume (p < 0,001) between both modalities. Analysis comparing postoperative MRI and post-resection n3DUS also showed good concordance in residual tumor volume (RTV) in cases where gross total resection (GTR) was not achieved (p < 0,001). In two cases, RTV detected on MRI that was not detected intra-operatively with IOUS could be reviewed in detail to recheck its appearance.

Conclusions Post-operative comparative analyses between IOUS and MRI is a valuable tool for novel ultrasound users, as it enhances the amount of feedback provided by cases and could accelerate the learning process, flattening this technique’s learning curve.

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Neurophysiological examination combined with functional intraoperative navigation using TMS in patients with brain tumor near the central region

Acta Neurochirurgica (2019) 161:1853–1864

Feasibility and value of non-invasive transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS MAGVENTURE® MagPro R30 Denmark) for preoperative diagnosis and surgical planning of brain tumor operations in everyday clinical practice.

Methods A prospective monocentric study was conducted, which included preoperative neurological and electrophysiological examination, TMS, and display of functional data in the navigation system (LOCALITE® TMS Navigator Germany). During surgery, the TMS data were correlated with the intraoperative monitoring (IOM). Twenty-four hours to 96 h and after at least 3 months, follow-ups with neurological, electrophysiological examinations and TMS stimulation were performed.

Results Twenty-five patients with tumors in or near by the primary motor cortex region were included in the study. Twenty-one patients completed preoperative and first postoperative TMS and the neurological examination. Eight of 21 patients showed slight worsening of primary motor cortex function, 8 patients had an unchanged state, and 4 patients showed an improvement early after surgery. The changes of the electrophysiological examination like significant delay of the latency and/or reduced amplitudes matched well with the postoperative neurological outcome: if patients showed a worsening of the SEP’s and MEP’s, the postoperative results revealed deterioration.

Conclusion A preoperatively performed TMS using the MAGVENTURE® MagPro R30 and the LOCALITE® TMS Navigator could be established in our clinical daily practice and allowed a safe and reliable mapping of the primary motor cortex in order to minimize the risk of postoperative neurological deficits and improve the neurological outcome of the patients.

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Arcuate fasciculus in brain tumor surgery

J Neurosurg 117:839–843, 2012 

Disturbance of the arcuate fasciculus in the dominant hemisphere is thought to be associated with language- processing disorders, including conduction aphasia. Although the arcuate fasciculus can be visualized in vivo with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography, its involvement in functional processes associated with language has not been shown dynamically using DTI tractography. In the present study, to clarify the participation of the arcuate fasciculus in language functions, postoperative changes in the arcuate fasciculus detected by DTI tractography were evaluated chronologically in relation to postoperative changes in language function after brain tumor surgery.

Methods. Preoperative and postoperative arcuate fasciculus area and language function were examined in 7 right-handed patients with a brain tumor in the left hemisphere located in proximity to part of the arcuate fasciculus. The arcuate fasciculus was depicted, and its area was calculated using DTI tractography. Language functions were measured using the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB).

Results. After tumor resection, visualization of the arcuate fasciculus was increased in 5 of the 7 patients, and the total WAB score improved in 6 of the 7 patients. The relative ratio of postoperative visualized area of the arcuate fasciculus to preoperative visualized area of the arcuate fasciculus was increased in association with an improvement in postoperative language function (p = 0.0039).

Conclusions. The role of the left arcuate fasciculus in language functions can be evaluated chronologically in vivo by DTI tractography after brain tumor surgery. Because increased postoperative visualization of the fasciculus was significantly associated with postoperative improvement in language functions, the arcuate fasciculus may play an important role in language function, as previously thought. In addition, postoperative changes in the arcuate fasciculus detected by DTI tractography could represent a predicting factor for postoperative language-dependent functional outcomes in patients with brain tumor.

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Correlation between language function and the left arcuate fasciculus detected by diffusion tensor imaging tractography after brain tumor surgery

J Neurosurg 117:839–843, 2012

Disturbance of the arcuate fasciculus in the dominant hemisphere is thought to be associated with language-processing disorders, including conduction aphasia. Although the arcuate fasciculus can be visualized in vivo with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography, its involvement in functional processes associated with language has not been shown dynamically using DTI tractography. In the present study, to clarify the participation of the arcuate fasciculus in language functions, postoperative changes in the arcuate fasciculus detected by DTI tractography were evaluated chronologically in relation to postoperative changes in language function after brain tumor surgery.

Methods. Preoperative and postoperative arcuate fasciculus area and language function were examined in 7 right-handed patients with a brain tumor in the left hemisphere located in proximity to part of the arcuate fasciculus. The arcuate fasciculus was depicted, and its area was calculated using DTI tractography. Language functions were measured using the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB).

Results. After tumor resection, visualization of the arcuate fasciculus was increased in 5 of the 7 patients, and the total WAB score improved in 6 of the 7 patients. The relative ratio of postoperative visualized area of the arcuate fasciculus to preoperative visualized area of the arcuate fasciculus was increased in association with an improvement in postoperative language function (p = 0.0039).

Conclusions. The role of the left arcuate fasciculus in language functions can be evaluated chronologically in vivo by DTI tractography after brain tumor surgery. Because increased postoperative visualization of the fasciculus was significantly associated with postoperative improvement in language functions, the arcuate fasciculus may play an important role in language function, as previously thought. In addition, postoperative changes in the arcuate fasciculus detected by DTI tractography could represent a predicting factor for postoperative language-dependent functional outcomes in patients with brain tumor.

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Influence of Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Surgical Planning for Tumors in or Near the Motor Cortex

Neurosurgery 70:1248–1257, 2012 DOI: 10.1227/NEU.0b013e318243881e 

Brain tumor surgery near the motor cortex requires careful planning to achieve the optimal balance between completeness of tumor resection and preservation of motor function. Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) can be used to map functionally essential motor areas preoperatively.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how much influence, benefit, and impact nTMS has on the surgical planning for tumors near the motor cortex.

METHODS: This study reviewed the records of 73 patients with brain tumors in or near the motor cortex, mapped preoperatively with nTMS. The surgical team prospectively classified how much influence the nTMS results had on the surgical planning. Stepwise regression analysis was used to explore which factors predict the amount of influence, benefit, and impact nTMS has on the surgical planning.

RESULTS: The influence of nTMS on the surgical planning was as follows: it confirmed the expected anatomy in 22% of patients, added knowledge that was not used in 23%, added awareness of high-risk areas in 27%, modified the approach in 16%, changed the planned extent of resection in 8%, and changed the surgical indication in 3%.

CONCLUSION: nTMS had an objective benefit on the surgical planning in one fourth of the patients and a subjective benefit in an additional half of the patients. It had an impact on the surgery itself in just more than half of the patients. By mapping the spatial relationship between the tumor and functional motor cortex, nTMS improves surgical planning for tumors in or near the motor cortex.

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Supracerebellar transtentorial approach—resection of the tentorium instead of an opening—to provide broad exposure of the mediobasal temporal lobe: anatomical aspects and surgical applications

J Neurosurg 116:764–772, 2012.  http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2011.12.JNS111256

The aim of this study was to describe the surgical anatomy of the mediobasal aspect of the temporal lobe and the supracerebellar transtentorial (SCTT) approach performed not with an opening, but with the resection of the tentorium, as an alternative route for the neurosurgical management of vascular and tumoral lesions arising from this region.

Methods. Cadaveric specimens were used to illustrate the surgical anatomy of the mediobasal region of the temporal lobe. Demographic aspects, characteristics of lesions, clinical presentation, surgical results, follow-up findings, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed for patients referred to receive the SCTT approach with tentorial resection.

Results. Ten patients (83%) were female and 2 (17%) were male. Their ages ranged from 6 to 59 years (mean 34.5 ± 15.8 years). All lesions (3 posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, 3 arteriovenous malformations, 3 cavernous malformations, and 3 tumors) were completely excluded or resected. After a mean follow-up period of 143 months (range 10–240 months), the mean postoperative Glasgow Outcome Scale score was 4.9.

Conclusions. Knowledge of the surgical anatomy provides improvement for microsurgical approaches. The evolution from a small opening to a resection of the tentorium absolutely changed the exposure of the mediobasal aspect of the temporal lobe. The SCTT approach with tentorial resection is an excellent alternative route to the posterior part of mediobasal aspect of the temporal lobe, and it was enough to achieve the best neurosurgical management of tumoral and vascular lesions located in this area.

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