Neurosurgical tools to extend tumor resection in hemispheric low-grade gliomas: conventional and contrast enhanced ultrasonography

Purpose Pediatric low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are the most frequent solid tumor in childhood. Based on an increasing number of literature reports, maximal safe resection is recommended as the first line of treatment whenever possible. However, distinguishing tumor tissue from the surrounding normal brain is often challenging with infiltrating neoplasms, even with the assistance of intraoperative, microscopic and conventional neuronavigation systems. Therefore, any technique that enhances the detection and visualization of LGGs intraoperatively is certainly desirable.