Discover the groundbreaking role of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation and tractography in safeguarding motor function during surgery for motor eloquent gliomas, a pivotal advancement in neurosurgery.
– by Klaus
Note that Klaus is a Santa-like GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Significance of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation and tractography to preserve motor function in patients undergoing surgery for motor eloquent gliomas.
Eibl et al., Heliyon 2024
<!– DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28115 //–>
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28115
Ho-ho-ho! Gather around, my dear friends, as I tell you a tale not of the North Pole, but of the incredible journey of brave souls navigating through the treacherous terrains of the human brain, much like we navigate through a blizzard to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. This story unfolds in a land where gliomas, much like Grinches, threaten the joyous motor activities that let us dance and prance around the Christmas tree.
In this frosty adventure, our elves, equipped with something even more magical than my sleigh’s navigation system, called navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS), embark on a mission. Their quest? To meticulously plan surgeries and assess risks, ensuring that the joy of movement isn’t stolen away by these Grinches. Imagine, if you will, nTMS as a high-tech toy workshop, where they craft detailed maps of the brain’s motor pathways, much like how we map out our Christmas Eve journey to ensure no child is missed.
Our story stars 36 brave souls, with hearts as warm as a Yule log fire, who faced these Grinches head-on. These patients, with an average age of 55.1 years, twinkling with hope, underwent 38 surgeries. The elves, with their nTMS sleigh, flew through the brain, mapping out the corticospinal tracts (CST) – the very pathways that let us ice skate or throw snowballs – with the precision of wrapping presents.
After the surgery, much like we check our list twice, the elves reviewed the outcomes. They found that when the Grinches were removed with enough distance from the CST, the joy of movement remained, allowing patients to dance merrily post-operation. The magic numbers revealed a 66.7% chance of keeping motor functions when nTMS positive areas were navigated around carefully, and an even more heartwarming 90.6% chance when steering clear of these critical areas.
In the end, dear friends, this tale reminds us of the power of hope, precision, and the magic of nTMS in ensuring that the joy of movement – much like the joy of Christmas – remains alive in the hearts of those facing gliomas. So, let’s raise our glasses of eggnog to the health heroes, our modern-day elves, who navigate the brain’s snowy peaks and valleys, ensuring that every patient can jingle all the way to recovery. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night!