Ultrasound-assisted resection of insular gliomas

Insular gliomas’ management challenges are attributed to their complex shape, proximity to critical vasculature, and organization. However, cytoreductive surgery's role in maximal extent of resection (EOR) improves survival. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) aids in defining tumor border, detecting residual, and guiding access. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of using intraoperative ultrasound on the extent of resection of insular gliomas, and the postoperative outcomes in a prospective cohort of 20 patients operated at Alexandria main university hospital and followed up for a period of at least 3 months. The Near total resection rate was 45% with 70% of patients having no neurological morbidity postoperatively. The median EOR was 81% with a range of 44 to 96%. The mean duration of IOUS setup was 19.6 ± 5.04 min, while the additional resection rate following IOUS assessment for residual tumor was 65% (n = 13). In addition, there was a significant increase in Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) from the preoperative through to the 90-day follow-up period (p = 0.012). Finally, following multivariate linear regression analysis, the EOR was identified as having a statistically significant correlation with the postoperative KPS (p = 0.004). Intraoperative ultrasonography is a valuable modality for strategizing the most efficient route to the tumor, promptly detecting any remaining tumor tissue, and optimizing the extent of resection for insular gliomas, while taking into consideration the phenomenon of brain shift.