Neurosurgery for brain tumors: update on recent technical advances

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Increased diagnosis of brain tumors due to advanced imaging and care access.
• Improved treatment capabilities for a growing patient population.
• Growing evidence supports extensive resection for glioma patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent literature on advanced imaging and therapeutic modalities for intracranial pathology.
• To describe the application of these technologies in patient treatment.
• To highlight their role in improving surgical planning and extent of resection.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
• Analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI for diagnosis and surgical planning.
• Evaluation of intraoperative MRI, 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence, and laser interstitial thermal therapy for surgical intervention.

Main Results:

• DTI aids in histologic diagnosis and identifying brain invasion.
• Functional MRI delineates tumor margins from eloquent cortex, assisting preoperative planning.
• Intraoperative MRI and 5-ALA fluorescence increase extent of resection in glioma patients.
• Laser interstitial thermal therapy offers a minimally invasive approach for small intracranial lesions.

Conclusions:

• Advanced imaging and intraoperative tools significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors.
• These modalities enhance surgical precision, leading to more extensive tumor resection.
• Emerging techniques like LITT show promise for minimally invasive treatment of intracranial lesions.