Role of intraoperative ultrasound in resection of pediatric brain tumors.
OBJECTIVE
In neurosurgery, ultrasound is useful in determination of the tumor location, differentiation between solid tumors and cystic components, as well as definition of the shortest and safest access to the mass. This study aims to evaluate the role of the intraoperative ultrasound in resection of pediatric brain tumors.


METHODS
Intraoperative ultrasonography (conventional B-Mode) was performed in 25 pediatric patients with brain tumors pre-, during, and post-resection, in whom eight patients were supratentorial and 17 were infratentorial. Post-op Grayscale images of the brain tumors on conventional ultrasound were compared with the results of immediate postoperative magnetic resonance imaging.


RESULTS
The border of the tumor and post-resection residual tumor were more distinguishable from healthy brain on ultrasound during the operation. Improved definition of the tumor tissue from normal brain with ultrasound was demonstrated in all cases aiding in tumor resection.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraoperative ultrasound is suggested to be a useful imaging technique in defining the border between the tumor and healthy brain tissue pre-resection, in detecting residual tumor tissues after the resection of the mass, and in guiding to the shortest and safest access to the tumor during neurosurgery.
El Beltagy
Mohamed Ahmed
MA
Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Cancer Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Beltgy_mohamed@hotmail.com
Aggag
Mohamed
M
Kamal
Mohamed
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome