M. De Lima Oliveira, H. Picarelli, A. Blassioli Barbosa, S. Brasil Lima, M. Jacobsen Teixeira, E. Bor-Seng-Shu
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, University of São Paulo – São Paulo, Brazil

Objective: Radical resection of brain metastases can be associated with better outcome. The gold standard intraoperatory method to detect residual tumors is magnetic resonance (RM). However this method requires long image acquisitions time, intravenous contrast (gadolinium) to disclose residual lesions and is restrict to some neurosurgical centers. Among the image methods, intra operatory ultrasound (IOUS) has been a reliable tool for assessing residual lesions after macroscopic tumor excision.

Material and Methods: Thirty six patients with presumed diagnosis of brain metastases (BM) were underwent a surgery with IOUS to pint point tumors, delineate their margins and intra operatory control resection. A total 46 lesions were removed by microscopic surgeries. IOUS was performed in all operations. A prospective study compared the last 2D IOUS control after tumor resection with pos operatory magnetic resonance (MRI) and enhanced contrast tomography (CT) in terms of quality in residual lesion detection. Control MRI and enhanced CT were performed in 75% of patients. Control CT and MRI were considered when it was performed until five months after surgery.