Articles: neuronavigation.
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Precise histopathological diagnosis of brain tumors is essential for the correct patient management. Furthermore, complete resection of brain tumors is associated with an improved patient prognosis. However, histopathological undergrading and incomplete tumor removal are not uncommon, especially due to insufficient intra-operative visualization of brain tumor tissue. ⋯ Finally, we showed that the application of 5-ALA is also of relevance in needle biopsies for intra-operative identification of representative brain tumor tissue. These data indicate that 5-ALA is not only of major importance for resection of high-grade gliomas, but also for intra-operative visualization of anaplastic foci as well as representative brain tumor tissue in needle biopsies unaffected by brainshift. Consequently, this new technique might become a novel standard in brain tumor surgery that optimizes the patient management and improves the patient prognosis by maximizing the extent of tumor resection and enabling a precise histopathological tumor diagnosis.
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J Spinal Disord Tech · Jul 2014
Clinical TrialIntraoperative computed tomography with an integrated navigation system in stabilization surgery for complex craniovertebral junction malformation.
This study was designed to report our preliminary experience with stabilization procedures for complex craniovertebral junction malformation (CVJM) using intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) with an integrated neuronavigation system (NNS). ⋯ iCT scanning with integrated NNS was found to be both feasible and beneficial in the stabilization procedures for complex CVJM. In this unusual patient population, the technique seemed to be of value for negotiating complex anatomy and for achieving more control over screw placement.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2014
Neuronavigation using susceptibility-weighted venography: application to deep brain stimulation and comparison with gadolinium contrast.
Careful trajectory planning on preoperative vascular imaging is an essential step in deep brain stimulation (DBS) to minimize risks of hemorrhagic complications and postoperative neurological deficits. This paper compares 2 MRI methods for visualizing cerebral vasculature and planning DBS probe trajectories: a single data set T1-weighted scan with double-dose gadolinium contrast (T1w-Gd) and a multi-data set protocol consisting of a T1-weighted structural, susceptibility-weighted venography, and time-of-flight angiography (T1w-SWI-TOF). Two neurosurgeons who specialize in neuromodulation surgery planned bilateral STN DBS in 18 patients with Parkinson's disease (36 hemispheres) using each protocol separately. ⋯ The authors' results show that trajectories planned on T1w-SWI-TOF successfully avoided the cerebral vasculature imaged by conventional T1w-Gd and did not suffer from missing vascular information or imprecise data set registration. Furthermore, with appropriate planning and visualization software, trajectory corridors planned on T1w-SWI-TOF intersected significantly less fine vasculature that was not detected on the T1w-Gd (p < 0.01 within 2 mm and p < 0.001 within 4 mm of the track centerline). The proposed T1w-SWI-TOF protocol comes with minimal effects on the imaging and surgical workflow, improves vessel avoidance, and provides a safe cost-effective alternative to injection of gadolinium contrast.
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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg · Jul 2014
Endoscopic endonasal transphenoidal surgery using the BrainLAB® Headband for navigation without rigid fixation.
The number of lesions of the skull base currently resected via endoscopic, endonasal, transphenoidal approach has increased. We have successfully treated 63 consecutive patients with pituitary lesions using this technique in combination with BrainLAB reference headband and laser surface scanning (BrainLAB(®), Heimstetten, Germany) for surgical navigation. ⋯ This is particularly important, as extension and flexion of the head provide greater exposure to the clivus and anterior skull base, respectively. Also, we demonstrate that this technique is safe, easy-to-use, and faster compared with other ones.