Intraoperative monitoring of motor evoked potentials during insular glioma surgery

Objective: To assess feasibility, validity, and clinical usefulness of motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring during surgery for intrinsic tumors of the insula. Surgery in this area carries a high risk for new motor deficit, due to its close relation with the deep motor tracts and their vascular supply. Recording of MEPs allows to continuously assess the functional integrity of the pyramidal tract in anesthesized patients. Methods: Functional mapping and monitoring was performed during 86 procedures in 82 patients (40 females, 40 (9–73) years) with insular gliomas (35 low-grade; 23 insulo-opercular, 63 insulo-p…