PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative utility and benefits of free-hand 2-dimensional intraoperative ultrasound (FUS) and navigated 3-dimensional intraoperative ultrasound (NUS) as ultrasound-guided biopsy (USGB) techniques for supratentorial lesions. METHODS: All patients who underwent USGB for suspected supratentorial tumours from January 2008 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The charts and electronic medical records of these patients were studied. Demographic, surgical, and pathological variables were collected and analyzed. The study group consisted of patients who underwent either FUS or NUS for biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 125 patients (112 adults and 13 children) underwent USGB during the study period (89 FUS and 36 NUS). NUS was used more often for deep-seated lesions (58% vs. 18% for FUS, P<0.001). The mean operating time for NUS was longer than for FUS (156 minutes vs. 124 minutes, P=0.001). Representative yield was found in 97.7% of biopsies using FUS and in 100% of biopsies using NUS (diagnostic yield, 93.6% and 91.3%, respectively). The majority of lesions (89%) were high-grade gliomas or lymphomas. Postoperative complications were more common in the NUS group (8.3% vs. 1.2%), but were related to the tumour location (deep). CONCLUSION: Despite the longer operating time and higher rate of postoperative complications, NUS has the benefit of being suitable for biopsies of deep-seated supratentorial lesions, while FUS remains valuable for superficial lesions.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Electronic Health Records ; Glioma ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Neuronavigation ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Recently, modern technology such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neuro-navigation and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) have been actively adopted for the treatment of thalamic tumors. We evaluated surgical outcomes and efficacy of the aforementioned technologies for the treatment of pediatric thalamic tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from 37 children with thalamic tumors between 2004 and 2017. There were 44 operations (27 tumor resections, 17 biopsies). DTI was employed in 17 cases, neuro-navigation in 23 cases and IOM in 14 cases. All diagnoses were revised according to the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated, and relevant prognostic factors were analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 19 months. RESULTS: Fifteen cases were gross total resections (GTR), 6 subtotal resections (STR), and 6 partial resections (PR). Neurological status did not worsen after 22 tumor resections. There were statistically significant differences in terms of the extent of resection between the groups with DTI, neuro-navigation and IOM (n=12, GTR or STR=12) and the group without at least one of the three techniques (n=15, GTR or STR=9, p=0.020). The mean PFS was 87.2±38.0 months, and the mean OS 90.7±36.1 months. The 5-year PFS was 37%, and the 5-year OS 47%. The histological grade (p≤0.001) and adjuvant therapy (done vs. not done, p=0.016) were significantly related to longer PFS. The histological grade (p=0.002) and the extent of removal (GTR/STR vs. PR/biopsy, p=0.047) were significantly related to longer OS. CONCLUSION: Maximal surgical resection was achieved with acceptable morbidity in children with thalamic tumors by employing DTI, neuro-navigation and IOM. Maximal tumor resection was a relevant clinical factor affecting OS; therefore, it should be considered the initial therapeutic option for pediatric thalamic tumors.
Central Nervous System ; Child* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging* ; Diffusion* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring* ; Neuronavigation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalamic Diseases ; Treatment Outcome ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: Recently, the use of ultrasound (US) techniques in regional anesthesia and pain medicine has increased significantly. However, the current extent of training in the use of US-guided pain management procedures in Korea remains unknown. The purpose of the present study was to assess the current state of US training provided during Korean Pain Society (KPS) pain fellowship programs through the comparative analysis between training hospitals. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous survey of 51 pain physicians who had completed KPS fellowships in 2017. Items pertained to current US practices and education, as well as the types of techniques and amount of experience with US-guided pain management procedures. Responses were compared based on the tier of the training hospital. RESULTS: Among the 51 respondents, 14 received training at first- and second-tier hospitals (Group A), while 37 received training at third-tier hospitals (Group B). The mean total duration of pain training during the 1-year fellowship was 7.4 months in Group A and 8.4 months in Group B. Our analysis revealed that 36% and 40% of respondents in Groups A and B received dedicated US training, respectively. Most respondents underwent US training in patient-care settings under the supervision of attending physicians. Cervical root, stellate ganglion, piriformis, and lumbar plexus blocks were more commonly performed by Group B than by Group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Instruction regarding US-guided pain management interventions varied among fellowship training hospitals, highlighting the need for the development of educational standards that mandate a minimum number of US-guided nerve blocks or injections during fellowships in interventional pain management.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Education* ; Fellowships and Scholarships* ; Korea* ; Lumbosacral Plexus ; Nerve Block ; Neuronavigation ; Organization and Administration ; Pain Management ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spine ; Stellate Ganglion ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ultrasonography

Animals ; Macaca mulatta ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuronavigation ; standards ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of high-field-strength intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) combined with optic radiation neuro-navigation for the resection of temporal lobe low-grade gliomas.

METHODSFrom April 2009 to September 2013, 65 patients with temporal lobe low-grade gliomas (WHO grade II) involving optic radiation were operated with iMRI and functional neuro-navigation. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based fiber tracking was used to delineate optic radiation. The reconstructed optic radiations were integrated into a navigation system, in order to achieve intraoperative microscopic-based functional neuro-navigation. iMRI was used to update the images for both optic radiations and residual tumors. Volumetric analyses were performed using 3D Slicer for pre- and intra-operative tumor volumes in all cases. All patients were evaluated for visual field deficits preoperatively and postoperatively. The Student t test was used to evaluate the average rate of extent of resection between groups. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to assess correlations between predictors and epilepsy prognosis.

RESULTSPreoperative tumor volumes were (78±40) cm3. In 29 cases, iMRI scan detected residual tumor that could be further resected, and extent of resection were increased from 76.2% to 92.7% (t=7.314, P<0.01). In 19 cases (29.2%), gross total resection was accomplished, and iMRI contributed directly to 8 of these cases. Postsurgical follow-up period varied from 13 months to 59 months, mean (33±13) months. Tumor progression were observed in 3 patients, newly developed or deteriorated visual field defects occurred in 4 patients (6.2%). For patients with pre-operative seizures, Engel Class I were achieved for 89.7% of them. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that seizure outcome (Engel Class) was related to increased excision of ratio (r=-0.452, P=0.004, 95% CI: -0.636--0.261) and larger tumors (r=0.391, P=0.014, 95% CI: 0.178-0.484).

CONCLUSIONSWith iMRI and functional neuro-navigation, the optic radiation can be accurately located, while extent of resection can be evaluated intra-operatively. This technique is safe and helpful for preservation of visual field for the resection of temporal lobe low-grade gliomas involving optic radiation.

Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Glioma ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuronavigation ; Temporal Lobe ; surgery

Usually fungal infections caused by opportunistic and pathogenic fungi had been an important cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. However clinical data and investigations for immunocompetent pathogenic fungal infections had been rare and neglected into clinical studies. Especially Cryptococcal brainstem abscess cases mimicking brain tumors were also much more rare. So we report this unusual case. This 47-year-old man presented with a history of progressively worsening headache and nausea for 1 month and several days of vomituritions before admission. Neurological and laboratory examinations performed demonstrated no abnormal findings. Previously he was healthy and did not have any significant medical illnesses. A CT and MRI scan revealed enhancing 1.8x1.7x2.0 cm mass lesion in the left pons having central necrosis and peripheral edema compressing the fourth ventricle. And also positron emission tomogram scan demonstrated a hot uptake of fluoro-deoxy-glucose on the brainstem lesion without any evidences of systemic metastasis. Gross total mass resection was achieved with lateral suboccipital approach with neuronavigation system. Postoperatively he recovered without any neurological deficits. Pathologic report confirmed Cryptococcus neoformans and he was successively treated with antifungal medications. This is a previously unreported rare case of brainstem Cryptococcal abscess mimicking brain tumors in immunocompetent host without having any apparent typical meningeal symptoms and signs with resultant good neurosurgical recovery.
Abscess* ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain Stem* ; Cryptococcus ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Edema ; Electrons ; Fourth Ventricle ; Fungi ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuronavigation ; Pons

PURPOSE: Although conventional neuro-navigation is a useful tool for image-guided glioma surgery, there are some limitations, such as brain shift. We introduced our methods using an identifiable marker, a "tailed bullet", to overcome the limitation of conventional neuro-navigation. A tailed bullet is an identifiable tumor location marker that determines the extent of a resection and we have introduced our technique and reviewed the clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have developed and used "tailed bullets" for brain tumor surgery. They were inserted into the brain parenchyma or the tumor itself to help identify the margin of tumor. We retrospectively reviewed surgically resected glioma cases using "tailed bullet". Total 110 gliomas included in this study and it contains WHO grade 2, 3, and 4 glioma was 14, 36, and 60 cases, respectively. RESULTS: Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 71 patients (64.5%), subtotal resection in 36 patients (32.7%), and partial resection in 3 patients (2.7%). The overall survival (OS) duration of grade 3 and 4 gliomas were 20.9 (range, 1.2-82.4) and 13.6 months (range, 1.4-173.4), respectively. Extent of resection (GTR), younger age, and higher initial Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score were related to longer OS for grade-4 gliomas. There was no significant adverse event directly related to the use of tailed bullets. CONCLUSION: Considering the limitations of conventional neuro-navigation methods, the tailed bullets could be helpful during glioma resection. We believe this simple method is an easily accessible technique and overcomes the limitation of the brain shift from the conventional neuro-navigation. Further studies are needed to verify the clinical benefits of using tailed bullets.
Adult ; Aged ; Brain/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Female ; Glioma/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuronavigation/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) is a widely used noninvasive method to evaluate the morphology, vasculature, and pathologies of the brain. The advantages of IOUS include realtime depiction of neuroanatomy, accurate localization and characterization of a lesion, reduced surgical exploration and surgical time, and presumably decreased patient morbidity. IOUS is useful in the intraoperative monitoring of lesion resection as well as intraoperative localization and characterization of focal parenchymal lesions. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical application of IOUS in pediatric intracranial neurosurgery.
Brain ; Humans ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Neuroanatomy ; Neuronavigation* ; Neurosurgery* ; Operative Time ; Pathology ; Pediatrics ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric cavernous malformation (CM) in the central nervous system. METHODS: Twenty-nine pediatric patients with supratentorial CM underwent microsurgical excision. In selected cases, transparent tubular retractor system (TTRS) was used to reduce retraction injury and intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) was held to preserve functioning cortex. Patients' demographics and symptoms were reviewed and surgical outcomes were discussed. RESULTS: The main initial clinical manifestations included the following : seizures (n=13, 45%), headache (n=7, 24%), focal neurological deficits (n=3, 10%), and an incidental finding (n=6, 21%). Overt hemorrhage was detected in 7 patients (24%). There were 19 children (66%) with a single CM and 10 (34%) children with multiple CMs. In 7 cases with deep-seated CM, we used a TTRS to minimize retraction. In 9 cases which location of CM was at eloquent area, IONM was taken during surgery. There was no major morbidity or mortality after surgery. In the 29 operated children, the overall long-term results were satisfactory : 25 (86%) patients had no signs or symptoms associated with CMs, 3 had controllable seizures, and 1 had mild weakness. CONCLUSION: With the assistance of neuronavigation systems, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and TTRS, CMs could be targeted more accurately and excised more safely. Based on the satisfactory seizure outcome achieved, complete microsurgical excision in children is recommended for CMs presenting with seizures but removal of hemosiderin-stained areas seems to be unnecessary.
Central Nervous System ; Child ; Demography ; Headache ; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Mortality ; Neuronavigation ; Seizures

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, reliability and accuracy of the automated magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) guided frameless brain biopsy with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI).

METHODSBetween July 2011 and July 2013, a consecutive series of 93 patients were prospectively enrolled. All the patients had intracranial lesions which need biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Among them, 48 patients were male, 45 patients were female. Their age range from 7 years to 76 years, the median age was 47 years. All patients underwent MRS examination. With MRS automatic fusion technique, the metabolic images were integrated into a standard navigation system (Vario Guide) to guide frameless biopsy. High-field iMRI (1.5 T) was used for target inspection, brain shift correction, and intra-operative exclusion of intra-cerebral hemorrhage and other complications.

RESULTSFor all the 93 patients, (1)H-MRS based metabolic images could be automatically integrated into a standard navigation system and average fusion procedure could be taken 5 minutes 6 seconds. For (1)H-MRS guided stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions, the diagnosis yield rate was 94.6% (88/93). Four cases did not get a clear pathological diagnosis, while 1 case did not match the pathological diagnosis result which obtained by following craniotomy. Technical related complication rate was 2.2% (2 cases, intra-cerebral hemorrhage), which were intra-operatively depicted with iMRI, and managed properly. Among them, 1 case with small volume (5 ml) intracerebral hematoma fully recovered 10 days after surgery without second surgical intervention. One case with large volume intracerebral hematoma (32 ml) was depicted with iMRI, followed by craniotomy and hematoma evacuation in the same session. This case had no new or worsened neurologic deficit post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS(1)H-MRS based metabolic imaging can be automatically integrated into a standard navigation system and used for frameless brain biopsy. The target can be selected according to the metabolic status of the lesion. Hence, the target can be more accurate. And the pathological diagnosis yield rate is higher. With iMRI, the method is safe, and has high clinical efficacy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; methods ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuronavigation ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Young Adult