Application of diffusion tensor imaging-based arcuate fasciculus tractography and intraoperative arcuate fasciculus navigation / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility of applying diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based arcuate fasciculus tractography and intraoperative arcuate fasciculus navigation for neurosurgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 85 patients with interhemispheric tumors who had undergone intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuronavigation were divided into sinistrocerebral tumor (SCT) group (n = 55) and sham group (n = 30). All patients accepted routine MRI and DTI preoperatively. The results from both DTI-based arcuate fasciculus tractography and neuronavigation were applied to guide the surgery. All patients were followed up at 2-4 weeks and 3-6 months postoperatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients smoothly received the pre-operative DTI-based arcuate fasciculus tractography. The three dimensional arcuate fasciculus was successfully integrated with the neuronavigation and achieved microscope heads-up display. Long-term follow-up showed that there were only 4 patients suffered from persistent language dysfunction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The combined application of DTI-based arcuate fasciculus tractography and intraoperative arcuate fasciculus navigation is feasible for guiding brain surgery. It can improve the surgical outcomes of intracranial tumor involving language functional area. The technology also maximizes the retention of language function and improves the post-operative quality of life.</p>

Application of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging and functional neuronavigation in microsurgery for lesions near language-related brain regions / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical value of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional neuronavigation in the preservation of the language function during microsurgery for lesions near language-related brain regions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-one right-handed patients underwent microsurgical resection of the lesions near the language-related brain regions with the assistance of intraoperative MRI and blood oxygen level- and diffusion tensor imaging-based functional neuronavigation. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the location of the lesions, namely group A with lesions near the left posterior inferior frontal gyrus and group B with lesions near the left posterior superior temporal gyrus. The aphasia quotient (AQ) of all patients were obtained using Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) before and 2 weeks after the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 33 patients with a normal AQ score (≥93.8) before the operation, the AQ score underwent no significant changes after the operation (P>0.05). Twenty-eight patients had lowered AQ scores (〈93.8) preoperatively, which were improved significantly after the operation (P<0.01). At 2 weeks after the operation, the language function worsened in 14 patients (23.0%), and only 2 (3.2%) showed a persistent language deficit at 6 months. Of the 61 patients, radical resection of the lesions was achieved in 41 and subtotal resection in 20 patients. The variation of AQ scores after the operation was not found to correlate to the degree of lesion resection, and the patients in group A showed a greater AQ variation than those in group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intraoperative MRI and functional neuronavigation can well demonstrate the structural relations between the lesions, the cortical areas and the fasciculi related to language functions, thus helping to better preserve the language function during microsurgical lesion resection in patients with lesions near language-related brain regions.</p>