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Surgical Approaches to Mesencephalic (Midbrain) Tumors

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Brainstem Tumors

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Abstract

The midbrain acts as a junction between the brain, lower part of the brainstem, and spinal cord. It functions as a relay station for major white matter tracts (e.g., corticospinal tracts) as well as the origin of two cranial nerve nuclei. Tumors that originate in or involve the midbrain pose a significant challenge, and their treatment usually involves several disciplines including neurosurgery and neurooncology. Surgery for midbrain tumors demands a high surgical technique and multidisciplinary approach in the operating room (e.g., neuromonitoring) and outside of it as well. The surgical approach is tailored for each and every case, taking into account the complex anatomy, specific location of the long tracts using advanced imaging, as well as the adjacent neurovascular structures that surround the surgical location. In recent years, there has been a growing interest and understanding of the molecular and genetic parameters of tumors that invade the midbrain, which, with time, will allow us to tailor more specific treatments for these patients.

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Abbreviations

CNS:

Central nervous system

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

CST:

Corticospinal tract

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

ETV:

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy

LGGs:

Low-grade gliomas

MR:

Magnetic resonance

PCGP:

Pediatric Cancer Genome Project

PPN:

Pedunculopontine nucleus

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nir Shimony

  2. Geisinger Common Wealth School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Danville, PA, USA

    Nir Shimony

  3. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    David S. Hersh

  4. St. Jude Endowed Chair of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Frederick A. Boop

  5. Le Bonheur Neurosciences Institute, Memphis, TN, USA

    Frederick A. Boop

  6. Semmes Murphey Clinic, Memphis, TN, USA

    Frederick A. Boop

Authors
  1. Nir Shimony
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  2. David S. Hersh
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  3. Frederick A. Boop
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nir Shimony .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

    George I. Jallo

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

    Mohammad Hassan A. Noureldine

  3. Institute of Neuroscience, Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Danville, PA, USA

    Nir Shimony

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Shimony, N., Hersh, D.S., Boop, F.A. (2020). Surgical Approaches to Mesencephalic (Midbrain) Tumors. In: Jallo, G., Noureldine, M., Shimony, N. (eds) Brainstem Tumors. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38774-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38774-7_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-38774-7

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