Comparison of pre- and postoperative cortical excitability in patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of primary neoplasm in the motor area

• Grant number: 23/14873-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Wellingson Silva Paiva
• Grantee: Theo Moraes Teixeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of central nervous system tumors significantly benefit from pre-, intra-, and postoperative monitoring of neuronal activity, which has already been proven to lead to superior clinical outcomes. In this context, the present research aims to evaluate whether obtaining data through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is relevant as a non-invasive method to aid surgical planning and predict neurological outcomes. For this purpose, 20 patients with indication for resection of primary tumors in the motor area will be invited to participate in two TMS sessions, one preoperative and one postoperative, to collect quantitative data on cortical excitability. The obtained values will be compared with clinical data, e.g. degree of motor strength, to assess their predictive power for functional neurological outcomes. The data will also be compared between the same patient's two sessions to evaluate whether the TMS technique significantly aids the neurosurgical approach and its results.