Surgical Management of Occipital Gliomas

Abstract

Gliomas located in the occipital lobe represent a rare pathologic entity. The importance of their early and accurate diagnosis cannot be overemphasized, since it may affect the overall outcome of these patients. Although extensive resection constitutes the standard management of these tumors, the selection of the best surgical approach remains controversial. Resection through an awake patient craniotomy guarantees maximal resection with great safety. However, it poses significant difficulties associated in large part with the patient’s surgical positioning. The employment of visual evoked potential monitoring during general anesthesia craniotomy may provide important information regarding the integrity of the visual pathway and visual cortex; however, its accuracy and reproducibility remain ill defined. The nuances of the employed surgical strategy are presented in this chapter.