Infrared thermography mapping plus neuronavigation target location in an eloquent area cavernoma resection

BACKGROUND: Safety and efficacy are irrebuttable goals in neurosurgery. METHODS: We performed a subcortical cavernoma resection in an eloquent area, where we recorded and compared the maximal and minimal brain temperature measured by an infrared thermographic camera and thermometer with the neuronavigation (NN) target location and real anatomical lesion location. RESULTS: The hottest cortical point correlated to the subcortical cavernoma location. The NN located the target at 10 mm away from the hottest point. CONCLUSION: More studies are needed to better understand the thermic radiation of the brain in health and in disease, but we believe that evaluating brain temperature, it could be possible to improve accuracy in neurosurgery and generate more knowledge about brain metabolism in vivo.