[Implement of multimodal navigation-based virtual reality in the needle biopsy of intracranial eloquent lesions]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of multimodal navigation-based virtual reality (MNVR) in the needle biopsy of intracranial eloquent lesions. Methods: From January 2016 to January 2017, 20 patients with intracranial deep-seated lesions involving eloquent brain areas underwent MNVR-aided needle biopsy at Department of Neurosurgery, People's Liberation Army General Hospital. Preoperatively, MNVR was used to propose and revise the biopsy planning. Intraoperatively, navigation helped trajectory avoid the eloquent structures. Intraoperative MRI (iMRI) was performed to prove the biopsy accuracy and detect the intraoperative complications. Perioperative neurological status, iMRI findings, intraoprative complications, surgical outcome and pathological diagnosis were recorded. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was conducted to compare the preoperative and postoperative neurological scores. Results: MNVR helped revised 45%(9/20) initial biopsy trajectories, which would probably injury the nearby eloquent structures. Navigation helped biopsy trajectories spare the eloquent structures during the operation. No statistical difference was found between postoperative and preoperative neurological status, despite all the lesions were adjacent to eloquent areas. Additionally, 20 patients totally received 21 iMRI scanning. iMRI helped revise incorrect biopsy site in one case and detected intraoperative hemorrhage in another case, both of cases were treated immediately and effectively. No MNVR related adverse events and complications occurred. Conclusions: MNVR-aided needle biopsy of intracranial eloquent lesions is a safe, novel and efficient biopsy modality. This technique is helpful to reduce the incidence of surgery related neurological deficits.