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Review of current microsurgical management of insular gliomas

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Abstract

The insular lobe is a functionally complex structure, harbouring peculiar anatomical and vascular features and specific neuronal connectivity with surrounding cerebral structures. It is situated in the depth of the Sylvian fissure and can be affected by either low-grade or high-grade gliomas. Because of its complexity, surgery of insular tumours has been traditionally regarded as hazardous. Nonetheless, currently improved diagnostic, neurophysiological and surgical tools allow the neurosurgeon to perform surgery of insular gliomas in a safer way, thus bringing forward the pioneering work performed by neurosurgeons in the past two decades.The aim of this paper is to provide the reader with an updated review of the anatomy, the clinical picture, diagnosis and surgical management of insular gliomas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Professor Hugues Duffau, MD, Ph.D. for his suggestions. They also thank Dr Guglielmo Pero, MD and Dr Francesco Cardinale, MD for their help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy

    Francesco Signorelli

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Neurologique et Neurochirurgical “P. Wertheimer”, Lyon, France

    Jacques Guyotat

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    Kost Elisevich

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Viale XX Settembre 45, 95129, Catania, Italy

    Giuseppe M. V. Barbagallo

Authors
  1. Francesco Signorelli
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  2. Jacques Guyotat
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  3. Kost Elisevich
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  4. Giuseppe M. V. Barbagallo
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Correspondence to Giuseppe M. V. Barbagallo.

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Signorelli, F., Guyotat, J., Elisevich, K. et al. Review of current microsurgical management of insular gliomas. Acta Neurochir 152, 19–26 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0450-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-009-0450-y

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