Surgical Neuro-Oncology: Management of Glioma

Gliomas are the most common intrinsic brain tumor in adults. Although maximal tumor resection improves survival, this must be balanced with preservation of neurologic function. Technological advancements have greatly expanded our ability to safely maximize tumor resection and design innovative therapeutic trials that take advantage of intracavitary delivery of therapeutic agents after resection. In this article, we review the role of surgical intervention for both low-grade and high-grade gliomas and the innovations that are driving and expanding the role of surgery in this therapeutically challenging group of malignancies.