The Role of Ultrasound in Detecting Brain Tumors During Surgery

The Role of Ultrasound in Detecting Brain Tumors During Surgery
Zhyar Polla Abdulla ¹,Anjam Ibrahim Sulayman², Azhin Shafeeq Tawfeeq³

<sub>1. MBChB, Trainee at Kurdistan Board of Medical Specialities- Neurosurgery, Hawler Teaching Hospital
2. Assist. Prof. Neurosurgeon, head of neurosurgery department,  Hawler medical university , college of medicine, Hawler Teaching Hospital.
3. Specialist Neurosurgeon, Hawler Teaching Hospital
Corresponding author email: polla.toufic@gmail.com</sub>

Abstract
Background: Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) have shown to be useful tool with an overall higher diagnostic value in detection of brain tumors and an effective tool to maximize the extent of resection which an important challenge in neurosurgical procedures.
Aim of study: To evaluate the role of intraoperative ultrasound in resection of brain masses and the extent of removal
Patients and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study conducted at PAR private hospital in  Erbil, Iraq, during a  period  of 2 years and followed up from the  beginning of 2020  till the end of 2021. The study included 57 patients with brain mass lesions, they were operated on and followed up during the study period. In all operations  ultrasound used during surgery  to aid the resection of masses. Brain MRI was performed  within 48 hours postoperatively  to assess the extent of resection.
Results: The mean age of the patients was (45.1 ± 17.3) and range of 7-73 years. Males were relatively dominant than females among the studied groups, 54.4% vs. 45.6%, respectively. Glioblastoma (GBM) and pilocytic astrocytoma grade II, were more frequent type among the studied group, they contributed for 29.8% and 21.1%, respectively. Total resection was documented in 71.9% of the patients and it was not affected by the age, gender, type of tumor or its location, in all comparisons, P. value > 0.05, not significant. 
Conclusions: Intraoperative ultrasound had a significant beneficial role in detecting brain tumors during surgery providing a high total resection rate of brain masses in both adults and pediatric patients. It was less time consuming, easy to performed and allow good monitoring for the progress of neurosurgical procedures