Visualization of the pyramidal tract in glioma surgery by integrating diffusion tensor imaging in functional neuronavigation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be integrated into functional navigation for the intraoperative visualization of the pyramidal tract.


METHODS
A single-shot spin-echo diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging sequence on a 1.5 T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner was used for DTI. One null image and six diffusion-weighted images (high B value 1 000 mm/s (2)) were obtained. Color-encoded fractional anisotropy maps of the principal eigenvector rendered as a boxoid within each voxel were used for segmentation of the pyramidal tract. The segmented images were rigidly registered with a T(1)-weighted gradient echo 3D dataset for navigation in 16 patients with gliomas. In tumors adjacent to the motor cortex (n = 6) data from functional MR imaging were co-registered.


RESULTS
The whole DTI processing lasted about 25-30 minutes in each case. In all cases DTI could be integrated into the navigational dataset resulting in an intraoperative visualization of the pyramidal tract by microscope-based navigation. Navigational accuracy measured as the target registration error was 1.2 +/- 0.46 mm. Registration of fractional anisotropy maps with the 3D navigational dataset was possible with an error of less than 2 mm. Co-registration with fMRI was consistent with DTI data. A neurological deterioration was observed only in one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
DTI can be reliably integrated into navigational datasets. Thus, microscope-based neuronavigation can be used for an intraoperative visualization of the course of the pyramidal tract. However, a possible shifting of the pyramidal tract has to be taken into account after major tumor parts are removed.
Nimsky
C
C
Department of Neurosurgery, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. nimsky@nch.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Grummich
P
P
Sorensen
A G
AG
Fahlbusch
R
R
Ganslandt
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology*