Work in progress. Intraoperative neurosurgical ultrasound: Localization of brain tumors in infants and children

Intraoperative real-time ultrasonic sector scanning was performed through the unincised dura mater or the intact brain surface of eight patients (aged six months to 13 years), each of whom had a previous documented mass lesion (four supratentorial, three infratentorial, one intraventricular). In each case, there was a clear definition of the location, configuration, and tissue consistency of the mass. With the exception of a choroid plexus papilloma, all lesions demonstrated both solid and fluid components. The location of a subcortical parietal lobe mass (ependymoma) was apparent only by prior sonography. All neoplastic tissue of one cerebellar astrocytoma that was identified at gross examination was removed, but additional intraoperative scanning following removal of the neoplasm suggested the presence of residual abnormal tissue. This was confirmed during further exploration, and additional gross tumor tissue was excised.