Neuronavigation guidance for motor cortex stimulation in resection of gliomas involving the precentral gyrus

Objective To explore surgical treatment of gliomas involving the motor eloquent area. Methods Twelve cases of gliomas involving precentral gyrus were underwent awake surgery procedures assis- ted with neuronavigation and brain functional mapping by cortical electrical stimulation.Results Eleven ca- ses acquired accurate location of both lesions and eloquent areas by neuronavigation and direct cortical stimula- tion.7 cases of motor cortices and 2 cases of motor speech centers were confirmed during the operation.Re- section,verified by postoperative MRI,was total in 8 cases (66.7%) and subtotal in 4 patients.Histological examination revealed an infiltrative glioma in all cases (8 low grade astrocytomas,2 high grade astrocytomas and 2 glioblastoma).Four patients had no postoperative deficit,while the other 8 patients were impaired, with,in all cases except one,complete recovery in 7 days to one month.Conclusion Direct cortical elec- trical stimulations and awake surgery offer a reliable,precise and safe method,allowing functional mapping es- pecially useful in case of infiltrative cerebral tumors in eloquent areas.This technique allows improvement in the quality of tumoral resection and concurrently a minimization of the risk of definitive postoperative neurologi- cal deficit.