Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 3, Issue 4 155-161, Copyright © 1984 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Criteria for using imaging ultrasound during brain and spinal cord surgery
J. Machi, B. Sigel, J. J. Jafar, R. Menoni, J. C. Beitler, R. A. Bernstein, R. M. Crowell, J. R. Ramos and D. G. Spigos
Imaging ultrasonography was performed during 23 brain and five spinal cord
operations with real-time B-mode instruments. Criteria for the utilization
of ultrasound at neurosurgical procedures were identified in terms of
assistance in the diagnosis or better definition of lesions. The diagnosis
criteria were detection and exclusion. Because of the accuracy of
preoperative imaging, usually little further help was provided by operative
ultrasonography in detecting previously totally unknown abnormalities or
excluding lesions found on positive studies. The definition criteria were
localization, distinction of tissue features, and assessment of spatial
relations. Operative ultrasonography was most useful when applied on the
basis of these definition criteria. Operative ultrasonography was
considered to be useful in 22 of 28 operations (79 per cent) in which it
assisted in exposing, accessing, and extirpating disease.
