Resection of a left insular cavernoma aided by a simple navigational tool. Technical note

Neurosurg Focus. 2006 Jul 15;21(1):e16. doi: 10.3171/foc.2006.21.1.17.

Abstract

The management of cavernous malformations of the brain is markedly influenced by the location of the lesions themselves. In the last decade, resection of cavernomas arising in the dominant insular lobe has been deemed safe only with the guidance of neuronavigation. Most navigation equipment, however, shares some minor drawbacks, including costs, longer operating time, and a variable loss of accuracy due to intraoperative brain shift. In this paper the authors present the case of a left dominant insular cavernoma that was successfully removed using a novel form of navigation that they call magnetic resonance imaging-based corticotopography. This technique, which is unaffected by the brain shift phenomenon, provided a simple and inexpensive alternative to standard neuronavigation. Selected cases of subcortical brain lesions could be conveniently approached using the same technique.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping / instrumentation
  • Brain Mapping / methods
  • Brain Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Cerebral Cortex / blood supply
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / surgery*
  • Cerebral Veins / abnormalities
  • Cerebral Veins / pathology
  • Cerebral Veins / surgery*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Frontal Lobe / surgery
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Intraoperative Complications / etiology
  • Intraoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Intraoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / instrumentation
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Neuronavigation / instrumentation
  • Neuronavigation / methods*
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / instrumentation
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome