title: Surgical Resection of Non-Glial Tumors in the Motor Cortex.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Direct surgery to resect tumors in the motor cortex could improve neurological symptoms or cause novel motor weakness. The present study describes the neurological outcomes of patients after the surgical resection of non-glial tumors in the primary motor cortex.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study included 25 patients who had pathologically confirmed non-glial tumors in the motor cortex for which they underwent surgery. Tumor location was verified using anatomical landmarks on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans. All surgeries involved a craniotomy and tumor resection, especially use of the sulcal dissecting approach for intra-axial tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 25 patients, 10 exhibited metastasis, 13 had a meningioma, and 2 had a cavernous malformation. Motor weakness and seizures were the most common symptoms, while 3 patients experienced only a headache. The tumor size was less than 20 mm in 4 patients, 20-40 mm in 14, and greater than 40 mm in seven. Of the 25 patients, 13 exhibited motor weakness prior to the operation, but most of these symptoms (76.9%) improved following surgery. On the other hand, eight patients experienced seizures prior to the surgery, and in three of these patients (37.5%), the seizures were not controlled after the surgery. In terms of surgical complications, a postoperative hematoma developed in one of the meningioma patients, and the patient's hemiparesis was aggravated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings show that careful and meticulous resection of non-glial tumors in the motor cortex can improve preoperative neurological signs, but it cannot completely control seizure activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Bum-Tae
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Brain neoplasms; Brain tumor; Motor cortex; Non-glial tumor; Surgery