Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) helps determine the distribution of motor eloquent areas prior to brain surgery. Yet the eloquence of primary motor areas frontal to the precentral gyrus identified via nTMS is unclear. We therefore investigated the resection of nTMS-positive prerolandic motor areas and its correlation with postsurgical impairment of motor function. We enrolled 43 patients with rolandic (PrG) or prerolandic (IFG, MFG, SFG) gliomas (WHO grade I-IV) in our study. Each patient underwent nTMS prior to surgery. Based on the 3D fusion of preoperative nTMS motor mapping data with postsurgical MRI scans, we identified nTMS points, resected in the infiltration zone of the tumor. We then classified the resected points according to localization and latency of their motor evoked potentials. Surgery-related paresis was graded as transient (≤ 6 weeks) or permanent (> 6 weeks). Our study showed the following results: Out of 43, 31 patients (72%) showed nTMS-positive motor eloquent points in the prerolandic gyri. In general, 13 out of 43 patients (30%) underwent resection of nTMS points. 10 out of these patients showed postoperative paresis. There were 2 (15%) patients with a transient, and 8 (62%) with a permanent surgery-related paresis. In 3 cases (23%), motor function remained unimpaired. Overall 62% of the patients suffered from a new permanent paresis after resection of nTMS-positive motor points. Direct correlation between resected prerolandic nTMS-positive motor areas and postoperative paresis could be considered as a proof of eloquence for these prerolandic motor areas. Thus, even though located in the superior or middle frontal gyrus, these cortical areas need to undergo intraoperative mapping and resection of nTMS-positive motor areas harbors a high risk of permanent postoperative paresis.
«
Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) helps determine the distribution of motor eloquent areas prior to brain surgery. Yet the eloquence of primary motor areas frontal to the precentral gyrus identified via nTMS is unclear. We therefore investigated the resection of nTMS-positive prerolandic motor areas and its correlation with postsurgical impairment of motor function. We enrolled 43 patients with rolandic (PrG) or prerolandic (IFG, MFG, SFG) gliomas (WHO grade I-IV) in our study....
»