title: Fiber-tracking does not accurately estimate size of fiber bundle in pathological condition: initial neurosurgical experience using neuronavigation and subcortical white matter stimulation.
abstract: The fiber-tracking method enables in vivo visualization of the white matter tracts of the brain using a diffusion tensor MR imaging technique. While this method represents a promising tool in the field of neurosurgery, especially when confronted with brain tumors in eloquent areas, its reliability remains unknown. We present here our preliminary validation of tractography in human subjects harboring brain tumors by comparing the results produced by neuronavigation and electrical white matter stimulation in two patients with gliomas in the eloquent area. Although we were able to visualize the pyramidal tract with the fiber-tracking technique, the images failed to present the actual size of the fiber bundles. Here we discuss the advantages and limitations of fiber-tracking in the field of neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka University Medical School, Yamadaoka, 2-2, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Amami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izumoto
authors.forename: Takahito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruno
authors.forename: Tsunehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D038361:Neuronavigation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results