Félix Pastor-Escartín1, Guillermo García-Catalán2, Vanessa M Holanda3, Issa Ali Muftah Lahirish4, Rubén Batista Quintero4, Mateus Regin Neto5, Vicent Quilis-Quesada6, Khalil Bergado Ibaoc4, José Manuel González Darder7, Evandro de Oliveira5. 1. Institute of Neurological Sciences (ICNE), São Paulo, Brazil; Microneurosurgery Laboratory, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Microsurgical Anatomy and Neurosurgery, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of València, Valencia, Spain. 2. Institute of Neurological Sciences (ICNE), São Paulo, Brazil; Microneurosurgery Laboratory, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, Spain. 3. Department of Microsurgical Anatomy and Neurosurgery, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. Electronic address: Vanessamila@gmail.com. 4. Institute of Neurological Sciences (ICNE), São Paulo, Brazil; Microneurosurgery Laboratory, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. 5. Institute of Neurological Sciences (ICNE), São Paulo, Brazil; Microneurosurgery Laboratory, Beneficência Portuguesa Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA. 6. Institute of Neurological Sciences (ICNE), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of Human Anatomy and Embriology, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of València, Valencia, Spain. 7. Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of València, Valencia, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the three-dimensional relationships of the operculoinsular compartments, using standard hemispheric and white matter fiber dissection and review the anatomy of association fibers related to the operculoinsular compartments of the Sylvian fissure and the main white matter tracts located deep into the insula. The secondary aim of this study was to improve the knowledge on this complex region to safely address tumor, vascular, and epilepsy lesions with an integrated perspective of the topographic and white matter fiber anatomy using 2D and 3D photographs. METHODS: Six cadaveric hemispheres were dissected. Two were fixed with formalin and the arteries were injected with red latex dye; the remaining four were prepared using the Kingler method and white fiber dissections were performed. RESULTS: The insula is located entirely inside the Sylvian fissure. The topographic hemispheric anatomy, Sylvian fissure, opercula, surrounding sulci and gyri, as well as the M2, M3, and M4 segments were identified. The anatomy of the insula, with the sulci and gyri and the limiting sulci, were also identified and described. The main white matter fiber tracts of the operculoinsular compartments of the Sylvian fissure as well as the main association and commissural fibers located deep in the insula were dissected and demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Complementing topographic anatomy with detailed study of white matter fibers and their integration can help the neurosurgeon to safely approach lesions in the insular region, improving postoperative results in the microsurgical treatment of aneurysmal lesions, insular tumors, or epilepsy surgery.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the three-dimensional relationships of the operculoinsular compartments, using standard hemispheric and white matter fiber dissection and review the anatomy of association fibers related to the operculoinsular compartments of the Sylvian fissure and the main white matter tracts located deep into the insula. The secondary aim of this study was to improve the knowledge on this complex region to safely address tumor, vascular, and epilepsy lesions with an integrated perspective of the topographic and white matter fiber anatomy using 2D and 3D photographs. METHODS: Six cadaveric hemispheres were dissected. Two were fixed with formalin and the arteries were injected with red latex dye; the remaining four were prepared using the Kingler method and white fiber dissections were performed. RESULTS: The insula is located entirely inside the Sylvian fissure. The topographic hemispheric anatomy, Sylvian fissure, opercula, surrounding sulci and gyri, as well as the M2, M3, and M4 segments were identified. The anatomy of the insula, with the sulci and gyri and the limiting sulci, were also identified and described. The main white matter fiber tracts of the operculoinsular compartments of the Sylvian fissure as well as the main association and commissural fibers located deep in the insula were dissected and demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Complementing topographic anatomy with detailed study of white matter fibers and their integration can help the neurosurgeon to safely approach lesions in the insular region, improving postoperative results in the microsurgical treatment of aneurysmal lesions, insular tumors, or epilepsy surgery.