In the continuous effort to further improve neurosurgery, intraoperative information on structure and function of the brain has become an important tool which potentially will result in an improved outcome of neurosurgical procedures. In this book experts from different countries and neurosurgical organizations have collected information on the state-of-the-art of intraoperative imaging, MRI, CT and ultrasound. Various contributions cover the future of neuroimaging, the impact of intraoperative imaging on glioma surgery, technical and neurosurgical aspects of the different imaging modalities and systems, and economical aspects. The present book thus provides a unique and comprehensive source of information on the complex of intraoperative imaging in modern neurosurgery.

This Neuroimaging publication presents information in three distinct sections: Diagnostics, Planning/Imaging, and Therapeutics. Topics include State of the Art Pathology (New tools, New WHO classification/implications); Applications of nanotechnology in the imaging and therapy of brain tumors; Molecular Tools (Biology, Prognosis and Therapeutic Triage in Gliomas); Surgical planning and intra-operative MR in brain tumor surgery; Imaging of brain tumors via DTI and fMRI; Imaging of brain tumors via MR Spectroscopy and Metabolic Imaging; Imaging of brain tumors: Perfusion Permeability; Novel Gadolinium liposomal contrast agents; Current status and future potential of MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery; Update on surgically based clinical trials in brain tumors including new neurosurgical techniques; Novel medical therapeutics in brain tumors, including targeted molecular therapies, current and future clinical trials; and Radiation oncology in brain tumors, current approaches and clinical trials in progress.

This book is intended as a practical manual on the use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) as a tool for imaging guidance during cranial and spinal neurosurgical procedures. Full account is taken of the emergence of novel clinical applications and recent technical advances, with extensive coverage of the impact of developments such as improved probe technology, fusion imaging and virtual navigation, 3D ultrasound imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and elastosonography. Basic principles of ultrasound are elucidated in order to assist in the optimal use of IOUS and clear guidance is provided on the interpretation of imaging findings in various pathologies. Informative comparisons are also made of the use of techniques such as fusion imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in general radiology and neurosurgery. The aim of the authors is to enhance the general knowledge regarding intra-operative ultrasound brain imaging, standardizing its use and exploring new techniques, leading in some way toward compensating the lack of specific training in the application of ultrasound among the neurosurgical community. IOUS is a sensitive tool that can improve surgical precision and help to reduce morbidity.

A summary of all facets of this new and rapidly developing field in neurosurgery. Besides neuroendoscopy, the books main topics are neuronavigation, functional neurosurgery, radiosurgery, neurotransplantation, and molecular neurosurgery. Provides a thorough overview of the state of the art and future perspectives in minimally invasive neurosurgery.

The Precision Medicine Initiative, which was instituted by President Barack Obama on January 20, 2015, highlighted the importance that advances in genomics and related “-omic” approaches have made to science and medicine, and it set the stage for their federally funded and mandated integration into the delivery of health care. Whether these advances comprise large-scale approaches, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas, which provides a modern classification of cancers based on molecular profiles, or genealogy initiatives, which seek to trace the movement of our early ancestors out of Africa, genomic technology has taken us closer to developing targeted therapies and a refined understanding of our evolutionary journey. It is against this backdrop that we summarized some of the recent advances in the field of precision medicine, or personalized medicine, as they pertain to neurosurgery. In this e-Book collection provided by Frontiers in Surgery: Neurosurgery, we present a collection of articles by leaders in the field of neurosurgery that highlight domains using a personalized approach for the treatment of patients or avenues when personalization is possible and when it will likely alter the care of patients with neurological diseases.

Intraoperative imaging technologies have taken an ever-increasing role in the daily practice of neurosurgeons and the increasing attention and interest necessitated international interaction and collaboration. The Intraoperative Imaging Society was formed in 2007. This book brings together highlights from the second meeting of the Intraoperative Imaging Society, which took place in Istanbul-Turkey from June 14 to 17, 2009. Included within the contents of the book is an overview of the emergence and development of the intraoperative imaging technology as well as a glimpse on where the technology is heading. This is followed by in detail coverage of intraoperative MRI technology and sections on intraoperative CT and ultrasonography. There are also sections on multimodality integration, intraoperative robotics and other intraoperative technologies. We believe that this book will provide an up-to date and comprehensive general overview of the current intraoperative imaging technology as well as detailed discussions on individual techniques and clinical results.