scholarly journals The role of diffusion tensor imaging and tractography in the surgical management of brainstem gliomas

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. E10
Author(s):  
Xiong Xiao ◽  
Lu Kong ◽  
Changcun Pan ◽  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Xin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Glioma Surgery ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Subcortical Stimulation ◽  
Planning Guide

OBJECTIVEDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) have the ability to noninvasively visualize changes in white matter tracts, as well as their relationships with lesions and other structures. DTI/DTT has been increasingly used to improve the safety and results of surgical treatment for lesions in eloquent areas, such as brainstem cavernous malformations. This study aimed to investigate the application value of DTI/DTT in brainstem glioma surgery and to validate the spatial accuracy of reconstructed corticospinal tracts (CSTs).METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on 54 patients with brainstem gliomas who had undergone surgery from January 2016 to December 2018 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. All patients underwent preoperative DTI and tumor resection with the assistance of DTT-merged neuronavigation and electrophysiological monitoring. Preoperative conventional MRI and DTI data were collected, and the muscle strength and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score before and after surgery were measured. The surgical plan was created with the assistance of DTI/DTT findings. The accuracy of DTI/DTT was validated by performing direct subcortical stimulation (DsCS) intraoperatively. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between quantitative parameters of DTI/DTT (such as the CST score and tumor-to-CST distance [TCD]) and postoperative muscle strength and mRS scores.RESULTSAmong the 54 patients, 6 had normal bilateral CSTs, 12 patients had unilateral CST impairments, and 36 had bilateral CSTs involved. The most common changes in the CSTs were deformation (n = 29), followed by deviation (n = 28) and interruption (n = 27). The surgical approach was changed in 18 cases (33.3%) after accounting for the DTI/DTT results. Among 55 CSTs on which DsCS was performed, 46 (83.6%) were validated as spatially accurate by DsCS. The CST score and TCD were significantly correlated with postoperative muscle strength (r = −0.395, p < 0.001, and r = 0.275, p = 0.004, respectively) and postoperative mRS score (r = 0.430, p = 0.001, and r = −0.329, p = 0.015, respectively). The CST score was independently linearly associated with postoperative muscle strength (t = −2.461, p = 0.016) and the postoperative mRS score (t = 2.052, p = 0.046).CONCLUSIONSDTI/DTT is a valuable tool in the surgical management of brainstem gliomas. With good accuracy, it can help optimize surgical planning, guide tumor resection, and predict the postoperative muscle strength and postoperative quality of life of patients.

Intraoperative mapping and monitoring of the corticospinal tracts with neurophysiological assessment and 3-dimensional ultrasonography-based navigation

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 738-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erez Nossek ◽  
Akiva Korn ◽  
Tal Shahar ◽  
Andrew A. Kanner ◽  
Hillary Yaffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Intraoperative Ultrasonography ◽  
Brain Shift ◽  
Corticospinal Tracts ◽  
Subcortical Stimulation ◽  
Neurophysiological Assessment

Object Preserving motor function is a major challenge in surgery for intraaxial brain tumors. Navigation systems are unreliable in predicting the location of the corticospinal tracts (CSTs) because of brain shift and the inability of current intraoperative systems to produce reliable diffusion tensor imaging data. The authors describe their experience with elaborate neurophysiological assessment and tractography-based navigation, corrected in real time by 3D intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) to identify motor pathways during subcortical tumor resection. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 55 patients undergoing resection of tumors located within or in proximity to the CSTs at the authors' institution between November 2007 and June 2009. Corticospinal tract tractography was coregistered to surgical navigation-derived images in 42 patients. Direct cortical-stimulated motor evoked potentials (dcMEPs) and subcortical-stimulated MEPs (scrtMEPs) were recorded intraoperatively to assess function and estimate the distance from the CSTs. Intraoperative ultrasonography updated the navigation imaging and estimated resection proximity to the CSTs. Preoperative clinical motor function was compared with postoperative outcome at several time points and correlated with incidences of intraoperative dcMEP alarm and low scrtMEP values. Results The threshold level needed to elicit scrtMEPs was plotted against the distance to the CSTs based on diffusion tensor imaging tractography after brain shift compensation with 3D IOUS, generating a trend line that demonstrated a linear order between these variables, and a relationship of 0.97 mA for every 1 mm of brain tissue distance from the CSTs. Clinically, 39 (71%) of 55 patients had no postoperative deficits, and 9 of the remaining 16 improved to baseline function within 1 month. Seven patients had varying degrees of permanent motor deficits. Subcortical stimulation was applied in 45 of the procedures. The status of 32 patients did not deteriorate postoperatively (stable or improved motor status): 27 of them (84%) displayed minimum scrtMEP thresholds > 7 mA. Six patients who experienced postoperative deterioration quickly recovered (within 5 days) and displayed minimum scrtMEP thresholds > 6.8 mA. Five of the 7 patients who had late (> 5 days postoperatively) or no recovery had minimal scrtMEP thresholds < 3 mA. An scrtMEP threshold of 3 mA was found to be the cutoff point below which irreversible disruption of CST integrity may be anticipated (sensitivity 83%, specificity 95%). Conclusions Combining elaborate neurophysiological assessment, tractography-based neuronavigation, and updated IOUS images provided accurate localization of the CSTs and enabled the safe resection of tumors approximating these tracts. This is the first attempt to evaluate the distance from the CSTs using the threshold of subcortical monopolar stimulation with real-time IOUS for the correction of brain shift. The linear correlation between the distance to the CSTs and the threshold of subcortical stimulation producing a motor response provides an intraoperative technique to better preserve motor function.

Clinical Application of Motor Pathway Mapping Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography and Intraoperative Direct Subcortical Stimulation in Cerebral Glioma Surgery

Neurosurgery ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1170-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng-Ping Zhu ◽  
Jin-Song Wu ◽  
Yan-Yan Song ◽  
Cheng-Jun Yao ◽  
Dong-Xiao Zhuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Motor Deficit ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Cerebral Glioma ◽  
Glioma Surgery ◽  
Eloquent Areas ◽  
Subcortical Stimulation ◽  
Dti Tractography

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Glioma surgery in eloquent areas remains a challenge because of the risk of postoperative motor deficits. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the efficiency of using a combination of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography functional neuronavigation and direct subcortical stimulation (DsCS) to yield a maximally safe resection of cerebral glioma in eloquent areas. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 58 subjects with an initial diagnosis of primary cerebral glioma within or adjacent to the pyramidal tract (PT). The white matter beneath the resection cavity was stimulated along the PT, which was visualized with DTI tractography. The intercept between the PT border and DsCS site was measured. The sensitivity and specificity of DTI tractography for PT mapping were evaluated. The efficiency of the combined use of both techniques on motor function preservation was assessed. RESULTS: Postoperative analysis showed gross total resection in 40 patients (69.0%). Seventeen patients (29.3%) experienced postoperative worsening; 1-month motor deficit was observed in 6 subjects (10.3%). DsCS verified a high concordance rate with DTI tractography for PT mapping. The sensitivity and specificity of DTI were 92.6% and 93.2%, respectively. The intercepts between positive DsCS sites and imaged PTs were 2.0 to 14.7 mm (5.2 ± 2.2 mm). The 6-month Karnofsky Performance Scale scores in 50 postoperative subjects were significantly increased compared with their preoperative scores. CONCLUSION: DTI tractography is effective but not completely reliable in delineating the descending motor pathways. Integration of DTI and DsCS favors patient-specific surgery for cerebral glioma in eloquent areas.

Surgical outcome of motor deficits and neurological status in brainstem cavernous malformations based on preoperative diffusion tensor imaging: a prospective randomized clinical trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Da Li ◽  
Yu-Ming Jiao ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
Fu-Xin Lin ◽  
Jun Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Surgical Approach ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Randomized Controlled

OBJECTIVESurgical management of brainstem lesions is challenging due to the highly compact, eloquent anatomy of the brainstem. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs).METHODSA prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was performed by using stratified blocked randomization. The primary eligibility criterion of the study was being a surgical candidate for brainstem CMs (with informed consent). The study enrolled 23 patients who underwent preoperative DTI/DTT and 24 patients who did not (the control group). The pre- and postoperative muscle strength of both limbs and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were evaluated. Muscle strength of any limb at 12 months after surgery at the clinic visit was the primary outcome; worsened muscle strength was considered to be a poor outcome. Outcome assessors were blinded to patient management. This study reports the preliminary results of the interim analysis.RESULTSThe cohort included 47 patients (22 women) with a mean age of 35.7 years. The clinical baselines between these 2 groups were not significantly different. In the DTI/DTT group, the corticospinal tract was affected in 17 patients (73.9%): it was displaced, deformed/partially interrupted, or completely interrupted in 6, 7, and 4 patients, respectively. The surgical approach and brainstem entry point were adjusted in 3 patients (13.0%) based on DTI/DTT data. The surgical morbidity of the DTI/DTT group (7/23, 30.4%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (19/24, 79.2%, p = 0.001). At 12 months, the mean mRS score (1.1, p = 0.034) and percentage of patients with worsened motor deficits (4.3%, p = 0.006) were significantly lower in the DTI/DTT group than in the control group (1.7% and 37.5%). Multivariate logistic regression identified the absence of preoperative DTI/DTT (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01–0.73, p = 0.028) and use of the 2-point method (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.38–12.49, p = 0.011) as independent adverse factors for a worsened motor deficit. The multivariate model found a significant correlation between poor mRS score and both an increased preoperative mRS score (t = 3.559, p = 0.001) and absence of preoperative DTI/DTT (t = −2.747, p = 0.009).CONCLUSIONSDTI/DTT noninvasively allowed for visualization of the anatomical relationship between vital tracts and pathologies as well as facilitated the brainstem surgical approach and entry-point decision making. The technique was valuable for complex neurosurgical planning to reduce morbidity. Nonetheless, DTI/DTT data should be interpreted cautiously.■ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: therapeutic; study design: randomized controlled trial; evidence: class I.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01758211 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Preoperative identification of the facial nerve in patients with large cerebellopontine angle tumors using high-density diffusion tensor imaging

2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Roundy ◽  
Johnny B. Delashaw ◽  
Justin S. Cetas
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Cerebellopontine Angle ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
High Density ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Nerve Preservation ◽  
Imaging Results

Object Facial nerve paresis can be a devastating complication following resection of large (> 2.5 cm) cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors. The authors have developed and used a new high-density diffusion tensor imaging (HD-DT imaging) method, aimed at preoperatively identifying the location and course of the facial nerve in relation to large CPA tumors. Their study objective was to preoperatively identify the facial nerve in patients with large CPA tumors and compare their HD-DT imaging method with a traditional standard DT imaging method and correlate with intraoperative findings. Methods The authors prospectively studied 5 patients with large (> 2.5 cm) CPA tumors. All patients underwent preoperative traditional standard- and HD-DT imaging. Imaging results were correlated with intraoperative findings. Results Utilizing their HD-DT imaging method, the authors positively identified the location and course of the facial nerve in all patients. In contrast, using a standard DT imaging method, the authors were unable to identify the facial nerve in 4 of the 5 patients. Conclusions The HD-DT imaging method that the authors describe and use has proven to be a powerful, accurate, and rapid method for preoperatively identifying the facial nerve in relation to large CPA tumors. Routine integration of HD-DT imaging in preoperative planning for CPA tumor resection could lead to improved facial nerve preservation.

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