Application of intraoperative ultrasound in the resection of high-grade gliomas

The incidence of gliomas is approximately 3–5/100,000, with high-grade gliomas accounting for approximately 30–40% of these tumors. Surgery is a confirmed positive factor in prolonging the survival of these patients, and a larger resection range means a longer survival time. Therefore, surgery for high-grade glioma patients should aim to maximize the extent of resection while preserving neurological function to achieve a better quality of life. There is consensus regarding the need to lengthen progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times. In glioma surgery, methods such as intraoperative computed tomography (ICT), intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (IMRI), navigation, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), and intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) are used to achieve an expanded resection during the surgical procedure. IOUS has been increasingly used in the surgery of high-grade gliomas and various tumors due to its convenient intraoperative use, its flexible repeatability, and the relatively low cost of operating room construction. With the continuous upgrading of ultrasound equipment, IOUS has been able to better assist surgeons in achieving an increased extent of resection. This review aims to summarize the application of ultrasound in the surgery of high-grade gliomas in the past decade, its improvement in patient prognosis, and its prospects.