BRMP-01. Awake cranial surgery with intraoperative language mapping for brain tumors. A single-center experience

Abstract

BACKGROUND Maximal safe resection of brain tumors affecting language areas has been a matter of increasing interest worldwide in the last decades. Functional MRI, tractography, and awake cranial surgery are standard procedures in our department since 2006. The aim of this study was to describe our experience in a series of 58 patients who underwent awake cranial surgery with intraoperative language mapping.

METHODS Retrospective study of 58 adult patients who underwent awake surgery for brain tumors between January 2006 and January 2021. Preoperative neuropsychological assessment served as inclusion criteria. Language was evaluated according to the BDAE (Boston diagnostic aphasia examination) and WAB (Western aphasia battery) and strength according to the MRC (Medical Research Council) motor scale in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 3-months follow up. Functional MRI and tractography depicting white-matter tracts, neuronavigation, cortical and subcortical stimulation were performed in all cases. Conscious sedation was the anesthetic technique (propofol, fentanyl, and NSAIDs). Minimum follow-up was 6 months.

FINDINGS The average age was 35 years (16–74). The anatomopathological findings were: low-grade glioma in 75,8% (n = 44), high-grade glioma in 15,6% (n = 9) and others in 8,6% (n = 5). No complications were registered during postoperative course. At the immediate postoperative evaluation 65% of patients presented with speech disturbances but at the 3-months follow up speech recovery was observed in all cases. Only 1 patient remained with moderate aphasia. mRS score at 3- months follow up was ≤ 1 in 96% of patients. Two patients had a persistent moderate hemiparesis.

CONCLUSION Tumor resection in awake patients showed to be a safe procedure, and well tolerated by the patients. Preoperative planning of anatomical and functional aspects and intraoperative neurophysiological assessment are the cornerstones for pursuing maximal safe resection.