Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
10:27
A Standardized Protocol for Functional Motor Mapping Using Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: February 27, 2026
Intraoperative stimulation techniques for functional pathway preservation and glioma resection
Nader Sanai1, Mitchel S Berger
1Brain Tumor Research Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. Nader.Sanai@bnaneuro.net
Neurosurgical Focus
|February 4, 2010
Summary
Neurosurgical oncology balances tumor removal with functional preservation. Intraoperative mapping techniques optimize glioma resection in eloquent areas, improving patient outcomes by minimizing neurological deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgical Oncology
- Neuroscience
- Brain Tumor Surgery
Background:
- Maximizing tumor resection is crucial in neurosurgical oncology for improved survival.
- Radical tumor removal can lead to significant functional deficits, especially in eloquent brain regions.
- Balancing oncological goals with functional preservation is a key challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the technical aspects of intraoperative mapping for glioma surgery.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of mapping techniques in optimizing tumor resection.
- To highlight strategies for minimizing risks in eloquent brain territories.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing preoperative functional and physiological imaging.
- Employing intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation mapping.
- Adapting mapping techniques for motor and language pathway identification.
Main Results:
- Intraoperative mapping effectively reduces risks in eloquent territories.
- These techniques reliably identify critical motor and language pathways.
- Mapping optimizes resection even with initially negative mapping data.
Conclusions:
- Surgical strategies involving intraoperative mapping are essential for gliomas near functional pathways.
- These methods enhance the safety and efficacy of tumor resection.
- Optimizing resection while preserving function is achievable through advanced mapping.
