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Surgical strategy for insular glioma

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Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this article is to review the outcomes of insular glioma surgery and discuss strategies to minimize postoperative morbidity.

Methods

The authors reviewed the published literature on low- and high-grade insular gliomas with a focus on glioma biology, insular anatomy, and surgical technique.

Results

Maximal safe resection of insular gliomas is associated with improved survival and is the primary goal of surgery. Protecting patient speech and motor function during insular glioma resection requires versatile integration of insular anatomy, cortical mapping, and microsurgical technique. Both the transsylvian and transcortical corridors to the insula are associated with low morbidity profiles, but the transcortical approach with intraoperative mapping is more favorable for gliomas within the posterior insular region.

Conclusions

Surgical strategy for insular gliomas is dependent on biological, anatomical, and clinical factors. Technical mastery integrated with intraoperative technologies can optimize surgical results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Ivy Brain Tumor Research Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Colin J. Przybylowski & Nader Sanai

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper

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  1. Colin J. Przybylowski
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  3. Nader Sanai
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Correspondence to Nader Sanai.

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Przybylowski, C.J., Hervey-Jumper, S.L. & Sanai, N. Surgical strategy for insular glioma. J Neurooncol 151, 491–497 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03499-4

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