Intraoperative Ultrasound an Economical Tool for Neurosurgeons: A Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Intraoperative image guidance is increasingly vital in neurosurgery.
• Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) offers a cost-effective, real-time alternative to advanced imaging.
• This study presents preliminary experiences with IOUS in a developing country's tertiary care setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in diverse neurosurgical procedures.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of IOUS in a resource-limited environment.
• To present preliminary findings from a large cohort of neurosurgical cases.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 1250 neurosurgical patients (supratentorial, infratentorial, spinal lesions) from January 2010 to May 2019.
• Utilized a 3.5–7.5 MHz sector transducer ultrasound machine for real-time imaging.
• Compared echogenicity and pathomorphology of lesions with preoperative CT/MRI.

Main Results:

• Intracranial structures were well visualized post-craniotomy.
• IOUS demonstrated superior sensitivity for non-enhanced solid and cystic lesions compared to CT/MRI.
• Tumor margins were clearly delineated by IOUS, aiding in precise resection.

Conclusions:

• High-resolution, real-time IOUS is a practical and user-friendly method for intraoperative lesion identification and localization.
• IOUS provides crucial information that can significantly improve surgical outcomes.
• The technique is valuable for enhancing surgical precision and patient results.