Intraoperative Ultrasound in Glioma Tumors
Abstract:
Background: Glioma tumor is the most common primary
brain tumor and extent of resection of this tumor plays a
significant role in the survival rate of the patients.
Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) has become a convenient
technique in brain tumor surgery due to its non-invasiveness,
affordability, and real-time imaging capabilities, making it
appealing to neurosurgeons, and assists neurosurgeons in
identifying the tumor’s location and adjacent structures
during surgery.
Materials & Method: This study was done prospectively, in
Rasul Akram and Shahada-ye-Haftam Tir hospitals, Tehran,
Iran, and evaluated IOUS’s use in 20 patients with brain
glioma between 2019 and 2022. Simple random sampling
was used to select patients. The resection was performed using
IOUS, and the extent of resection was assessed through
imaging. We used SonoSite convex ultrasound probe with
bandwidth of 10-3 MHz and scan depth of 3 to 18 cm.
Results: The study found that with ultrasound guidance, the
average mass resection rate was 89.3%. The use of ultrasound
during surgery improved the resection rate compared to
previous studies. Motor complications observed in 15% of
patients after surgery included paralysis and verbal deficits,
while the rate of meningitis was low. The average length of
hospitalization for patients was 10 days, and the average
intraoperative bleeding was 344 cubic centimeters.
Conclusion: Ultrasound can be a valuable tool in resection
of brain glioma as it provides real-time imaging and assists
in tumor resection, and detect adjacent structures. However,
it should be used in conjunction with other monitoring
modalities. Further studies are necessary to explore the full
potential and limitations of IOUS in neurosurgery.