Mapping and anatomo-surgical techniques for SMA-cingulum-corpus callosum gliomas; how I do it

Background Awake brain mapping paradigms are variable, particularly in SMA, and not personalised to each patient. In addition, subpial resections do not offer full protection to vascular injury, as the pia can be easily violated. Methods Mapping paradigms developed by a multidisciplinary brain mapping team. During resection, a combined subpial/interhemispheric approach allowed early identification and arterial skeletonization. Precise anatomo-surgical dissection of the affected cingulum and corpus callosum was achieved. Conclusions In SMA-cingulum-CC tumours, a combined subpial/interhemispheric approach reduces risk of vascular injury allowing precise anatomo-surgical dissections. Knowledge of cognitive functions of affected parcels is likely to offer best outcomes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00701-021-04774-7.


Relevant surgical/functional anatomy
The SMA introduced by Penfield 70 years ago as secondary but critical component in voluntary movement following its integration to the medial pre-motor system including the pre-SMA anteriorly and the cingulate gyrus inferiorly [4]. The current pre-SMA and SMA-proper divisions are based on cytoarchitectonic and functional methodologies; interestingly, the border between the two areas coincides with the AC-PC line passing through the anterior commissure (AC), vertically at a line connecting the AC and posterior commissure (PC) (Fig. 1). In addition to motor preparation, monitoring task difficulty and speech articulation, SMA is involved in speech initiation [1]. The corpus callosum (CC) contains somatotopically organised interhemispheric connectivity fibre tracts ( Fig. 1) [2]. Currently, there are no validated mapping paradigms for the cingulum or the CC, although developing surgical corridors to the CC requires identifying non-eloquent brain tissue.

Specific perioperative considerations
The brain mapping (BM) paradigms of the case were discussed in a novel multidisciplinary (MDT) meeting employed in the senior author's practice in the last 3 years, with participation of neuropsychologists, speech and language therapists, neuroradiologists, cognitive neuroscientists and neurologists, with analysis of functional imaging and pre-operative assessment data resulting on specific mapping paradigms applicable to the particular patient. Eloquent cortical parcels (verbal fluency, verb generation and primary motor cortex) and subcortical segments (arcuate fasciculus) were encasing the tumour (Fig. 2). The BM-MDT recommended testing the SMA with speech initiation through sentence completion task. Functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) overlays were obtained a n d l o a d e d i n t o t h e n e u r o n a v i g a t i o n s y s t e m (StealthStation S8, Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA) and fused with T2W MRI volumetric sequences. The senior author rendered the overlays to colour-coded volumes, allowing easy intraoperative 3D guidance (Fig. 2, bottom left).

Anaesthetic technique
Our awake-throughout craniotomy technique has been described [3]. The patient received a small amount of target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and remifentanil targeting blood concentrations of 0.8-1.2 mg/ml and 1-2 ng/ml, respectively [3]. Following Mayfield clamp application, all TCI was stopped. The patient was placed supine on a padded operating table, with the neck slightly flexed and the head in neutral midline position, allowing comfort and tolerance of a potentially lengthy operations. The patient was extensively coached before and throughout surgery on the importance of their active participation and effort.

Direct electrical stimulation and mapping technique
Following dural opening under the microscope (Zeiss Kinevo 900, Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany), a 6-contact strip electrode (Ad-Tech Medical Instrument Corporation, Racine, USA) was inserted for electrocorticography (ECoG) and detection of after-discharge potentials. For motor mapping and language mapping, monopolar stimulation and bipolar stimulation were respectively used (C2 Xtend, inomed, Emmendingen, Germany). The senior author employs a decreasing current stimulation protocol for high frequency, motor testing starting at 10 mAmps while an increasing low-frequency, language testing is used, starting at 2 mAmps with upper limit 5 mAmps or appearance of after-discharge potentials. The M1 was easily identified at 5 mAmps while motor responses were obtained from the posterior SMA with movement slowness and foot twitching. Two discreet areas on SMA, marked with the tickets #3 and #4, produced consistent inability to complete sentences while stimulation of the same area did not affect counting, articulation or picture naming ( Fig. 3a and b). All paradigms were proposed by the BM-MDT in the pre-operative group meeting and proven to be accurate.

Tumour resection
Once a silent cortical area was identified, following a small corticotomy, the tumour was entered and debulked initially with suction, set at 20 KPa, and the ultrasonic Fig. 2 Screenshot demonstrating a non-enhancing glial tumour involving medial pre-SMA, SMA proper, cingulum and genu and body of the CC. fMRI and DTI overlays are outlined manually on axial sequences while the software calculates the 3D volumes (lower right image). Cyan, tumour outline; arcuate fasciculus, red; verbal fluency, yellow; verb generation, white; primary motor cortex, orange aspiration (CUSA® Clarity, Integra, Plainsboro, USA). The senior author applies the cavitation effect in white matter distally to vessels, while adjacent to pial surfaces, the aspiration effect only is used, as it is safer and finely scalable compared with surgical suction.
F o r t u m o u r s i n v o l v i n g t h e c i n g u l u m / C C , neuronavigation is usually of limited assistance while, in our experience, two anatomical landmarks are significantly more accurate: the falx medially and the frontal horn ependyma laterally. The frontal horn does not necessarily need to be de-roofed although intraventricular tumour component removal, in this case, required eventually ventricular entry (Figs. 4a and b). Once both exposed, virtual axial and sagittal orthogonal planes are visualised, intersecting at the CC.
Most of the tumour removed subpially with the ultrasonic aspirator, without cavitation effect when approaching the midline. A Rhoton #8 microdissector (Integra, Plainsboro, USA) used to dissect the cingulum from the pericallosal arteries. However, early arterial visualisation is critical, as the delicate pia cannot always protect from vascular injury. A partial interhemispheric approach was employed, and the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and the CC clearly visualised (Fig. 5), thereby allowing safe and expedient subpial resection. At the free edge of the falx, the cingulum gently displaced laterally exposing the paired pericallosal arteries against a whiter-looking CC. A careful, anatomo-surgical dissection resulted in clear visualisation of all A2 and A3 branches and the anterior half of the CC (Fig. 6a). Extra care was taken to avoid manipulation-induced vasospasm.
According to anatomical regions, subcortical, continuous monopolar stimulation with mapping suction probe, for corticospinal tract mapping, applied to posteroinferior edges, while bipolar stimulation for language mapping to inferolateral edges, was intermittently performed, with paradigms devised pre-operatively by the brain mapping MDT (Figs. 2, 3b, 6b).
At the end of resection, a comprehensive motor and language testing employing the Boston naming test, sentence completion, verb generation and pyramids and palm trees showed no deviation from the pre-operative baseline.

Limitations
Developing specific mapping paradigms per brain region requires experienced, MDT teams. In addition, patients Fig. 3 a Consistently positive stimulation sites for speech initiation tested with sentence completion test, while no dysarthria, speech arrest or picture naming difficulties were recorded and marked with the sterile tickets 3 and 4. The white cable of the strip electrode is identified in the lower, left corner. b Personalized brain map of the patient with the 4 positive cortical stimulation sites, functional outputs and stimulation parameters. #1 M1, movement of elbow, monopolar stimulation at 5 mAmps; #2 SMA, twitching of foot, monopolar stimulation at 5 mAmps; #3 SMA, inability to complete sentences, bipolar stimulation at 5 mAmps; #4 SMA, inability to complete sentences, bipolar stimulation at 5 mAmps. The personalised map template is used in all cases to plan mapping and record mapping findings must be motivated and cooperating throughout the operation, to allow successful initial and subsequent mapping.

How to avoid complications
Two types of complications can be observed. (1) Vascular injury to the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) or distal ACA. SSS injury risk is minimised if the craniotomy of performed 1 cm laterally, without exposing the SSS. The risk of ACA injury is minimised with a combined subpial/inter-hemispheric technique allowing early vessel identification and safer, expedient subpial resections.
(2) Injury of eloquent functions from incomplete or inaccurate intraoperative testing. In particular, extensive variability is documented in selection of intraoperative tests for language and other cognitive functions [5]. A large-scale specialists survey conducted by our group, on selection and interpretation of intraoperative tests, documented lack of agreement in all domains regardless of specialism or years of experience [5]. Our personalised model of mapping within the context of a BM-MDT conferred personalised testing paradigms. Fig. 4 a Using the ultrasonic aspirator, on suction only without cavitation, the ependyma can be exposed without entering the ventricle, if necessary. A virtual plane extended to the falx, can help localising the CC. b The intraventricular component of the tumour necessitated ventricular entry in this case, with demonstration of key landmarks

Information given to the patient
The patient is given specific written information, applicable to the senior author's practice, with description of each step of the ABM, including positioning, drilling, mapping and expectation setting. The patient is coached and supported before and during ABM.

Declarations
Ethical approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent The patient has consented, in writing, for the publication of their case.

Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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