Intraoperative localization of the central sulcus by cortical somatosensory evoked potentials in brain tumor. Case report

J Neurosurg. 1992 May;76(5):867-70. doi: 10.3171/jns.1992.76.5.0867.

Abstract

Perplexing findings of cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP's) for determining the central sulcus during a craniotomy are reported in a case of brain tumor. On stimulation of the contralateral median nerve in that patient, phase-reversal of SEP waves N1 and P2 was observed not only across the central sulcus but also across the precentral sulcus. In topographic mapping of the N1-P2 amplitude, the sulcus dividing the maximum polarity was the central sulcus; this was confirmed by the cortical stimulation-evoked motor responses. For accurate localization of the central sulcus by cortical SEP's, the distribution of potentials must be analyzed with extensive exposure of the sensorimotor cortex.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Mapping
  • Brain Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Craniotomy
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Intraoperative