title: Intraoperative electrical stimulation mapping as an aid for surgery of intracranial lesions involving motor areas in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analysed the usefulness of intraoperative electrical stimulation mapping (ESM) for locating motor pathways in pediatric patients harboring cerebral lesions closely related to motor areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied ESM in 17 consecutive pediatric patients operated on under general anesthesia. It was possible to locate motor function in 15 patients and in all children 5 years old and younger, as well as in all patients presenting with severe motor deficits, using relatively high current intensities. Intraoperative seizures occurred in 20% of our patients. A macroscopically complete removal of the lesion was carried out in 12 cases out of 17 with no definitive postoperative aggravation. Motor function improved for all patients presenting preoperatively with a severe paresis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience ESM revealed to be an useful tool for allowing us to push the resection of any lesion infringing on eloquent cortex up to the limit of functional areas, even in cases in very young and severely paretic children.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurochirurgie D, Hôpital Neurologique, 59 Boulevard Pinel, BP Lyon-Monchat, 69394, Lyon 03, France. f.signorelli@medscape.com
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guyotat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mottolese
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Acunzi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isnard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods