====== Intraaxial tumor ======

Intraaxial is a term that denotes lesions that are within the [[brain parenchyma]], in contrast to extra axial, which describes lesions outside the brain. 

Surgical resection of intra-axial tumors is a challenging procedure due to indistinct tumor margins, infiltration and displacement of [[white matter tract]]s surrounding the lesion. Hence, gross total tumor resection without causing new neurological deficits is demanding, especially in tumor sites adjoining [[eloquent]] structures. 

Traditional [[approach]]es to medial temporo-occipital intra-axial [[brain tumor]]s carry the risk of [[visual disturbance]] or [[language dysfunction]]s related to brain retraction or transgression of deep [[fiber tract]]s.
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Preserving subcortical connectivity is crucial in optimizing functional outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for [[intraaxial tumor]]s. [[Diffusion tensor imaging]] (DTI) attempts to aid in the preservation of these subcortical networks by providing a framework for localizing these tracts in relation to the surgical target.