Multimodal Neuronavigation for Brain Tumor Surgery

Abstract

The current neuronavigation techniques increase safety and surgeon confidence during neurosurgical procedure performance. However, its real usefulness remains in integrating multimodal information from advanced magnetic resonance imaging, as tractography (DTI), functional studies that evaluate motor and sensitive language, motor function (BOLD techniques with different paradigms), and nuclear medicine. At the operating room, the fusion of sonographic information acquired in real-time with the predefined plan increase the chance to achieve gross-total resection of primary brain tumors. Combining these different image modalities with brain mapping and motor stimulation information in selected cases is possible, increasing surgery safety. In this review, we present our experience with multimodal neuronavigation to treat brain tumors in pediatric patients.