Barbara Zarino1, Martina Andrea Sirtori2,3, Tommaso Meschini4, Giulio Andrea Bertani2, Manuela Caroli2, Cristina Bana5, Linda Borellini5, Marco Locatelli2,3,4, Giorgio Carrabba2. 1. Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, Padiglione Monteggia, 20122, Milan, Italy. barbara.zarino@gmail.com. 2. Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, Padiglione Monteggia, 20122, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 5. Neuropathophysilogy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: For a long time, surgery of insular gliomas was considered at high risk for postoperative cognitive deficits, but recent studies highlighted the feasibility of the surgical approach. The aims of our study were to investigate the presence of language impairment before and after surgery and the relationship between language impairment and tumor volume preoperatively and extent of resection (EOR) 3 months after surgery. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with insular gliomas underwent an extensive language assessment before and few days after surgery, and after 3 months. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) and brain mapping with direct electrical stimulation (DES) were used in all the cases; 8 patients underwent awake craniotomy. Statistical analysis was performed on the language tests administered. RESULTS: Patients with pure left insular lesion showed language impairment before and after surgery. Overall, patients with a left lesion showed a drop of performance after surgery followed by a partial recovery. Moreover, when the tumor involved the insula and adjacent networks, we observed a more severe deficit. No correlations were found between tumor volume, EOR, and language impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Left insular lobe is an important hub in language networks; its involvement determines pre- and postsurgical deficits, together with the involvement of white matter connections. Tumor volume and EOR are not risk factors per se directly related to language functioning. Surgery of insular gliomas is possible with a pre- and intraoperative extensive study of the patient with IOM and awake surgery, and encouraged by the trend of cognitive recovery highlighted.
BACKGROUND: For a long time, surgery of insular gliomas was considered at high risk for postoperative cognitive deficits, but recent studies highlighted the feasibility of the surgical approach. The aims of our study were to investigate the presence of language impairment before and after surgery and the relationship between language impairment and tumor volume preoperatively and extent of resection (EOR) 3 months after surgery. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with insular gliomas underwent an extensive language assessment before and few days after surgery, and after 3 months. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) and brain mapping with direct electrical stimulation (DES) were used in all the cases; 8 patients underwent awake craniotomy. Statistical analysis was performed on the language tests administered. RESULTS:Patients with pure left insular lesion showed language impairment before and after surgery. Overall, patients with a left lesion showed a drop of performance after surgery followed by a partial recovery. Moreover, when the tumor involved the insula and adjacent networks, we observed a more severe deficit. No correlations were found between tumor volume, EOR, and language impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Left insular lobe is an important hub in language networks; its involvement determines pre- and postsurgical deficits, together with the involvement of white matter connections. Tumor volume and EOR are not risk factors per se directly related to language functioning. Surgery of insular gliomas is possible with a pre- and intraoperative extensive study of the patient with IOM and awake surgery, and encouraged by the trend of cognitive recovery highlighted.
Authors: Giorgio Carrabba; Giulio Bertani; Filippo Cogiamanian; Gianluca Ardolino; Barbara Zarino; Andrea Di Cristofori; Marco Locatelli; Manuela Caroli; Paolo Rampini Journal: World Neurosurg Date: 2016-06-23 Impact factor: 2.104
Authors: Giulio Bertani; Enrica Fava; Giuseppe Casaceli; Giorgio Carrabba; Alessandra Casarotti; Costanza Papagno; Antonella Castellano; Andrea Falini; Sergio M Gaini; Lorenzo Bello Journal: Neurosurg Focus Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 4.047
Authors: Giorgio Carrabba; Giorgio Fiore; Andrea Di Cristofori; Cristina Bana; Linda Borellini; Barbara Zarino; Giorgio Conte; Fabio Triulzi; Alessandra Rocca; Carlo Giussani; Manuela Caroli; Marco Locatelli; Giulio Bertani Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2022-09-13 Impact factor: 5.738