The Neurosurgeon’s Armamentarium for Gliomas: An Update on Intraoperative Technologies to Improve Extent of Resection

• Main Authors: Alexander J. Schupper, Raymund L. Yong, Constantinos G. Hadjipanayis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: extent of resection; fluorescence-guided surgery; 5-ALA; fluorescein; intraoperative imaging; neuromonitoring
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/2/236

Maximal safe resection is the standard of care in the neurosurgical treatment of high-grade gliomas. To aid surgeons in the operating room, adjuvant techniques and technologies centered around improving intraoperative visualization of tumor tissue have been developed. In this review, we will discuss the most advanced technologies, specifically fluorescence-guided surgery, intraoperative imaging, neuromonitoring modalities, and microscopic imaging techniques. The goal of these technologies is to improve detection of tumor tissue beyond what conventional microsurgery has permitted. We describe the various advances, the current state of the literature that have tested the utility of the different adjuvants in clinical practice, and future directions for improving intraoperative technologies.