THE ROLE OF INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASOUND IN RESECTION OF INTRACRANIAL TUMORS: A SINGLE-INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Background: Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) plays a crucial role in intracranial tumor resection, offering real-time visualization and guidance during surgery. This study evaluates the utility of IOUS in enhancing resection extent and improving outcomes for patients undergoing intracranial tumor surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 124 patients who underwent intracranial tumor resection with IOUS guidance between January 2018 and December 2022 at a single tertiary care neurosurgical center. Data collected included demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical details, radiological findings, and clinical outcomes. Resection extent was classified as gross total resection (GTR), near-total resection (NTR), or subtotal resection (STR). Statistical analysis included Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test.

Results: The most common tumor locations were supratentorial (66.1%) and infratentorial (33.9%). Glioblastoma (38.7%), meningioma (25.8%), and metastatic brain tumors (16.1%) were the most frequent histological diagnoses. IOUS guidance facilitated GTR in 67.7% of patients, NTR in 22.6%, and STR in 9.7%. The median overall survival was 16.3 months. Patients achieving GTR had significantly longer survival (20.1 months) compared to NTR (14.8 months) and STR (10.2 months) (p<0.001).

Conclusion: IOUS guidance is a valuable tool in intracranial tumor surgery, contributing to improved resection extent and favorable survival outcomes. The high GTR rate and improved survival highlight the potential of IOUS to enhance the quality of care and clinical outcomes for these patients.