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 tracts surrounding the lesion. Hence, gross total tumor resection without causing new neurological deficits is demanding, especially in tumor sites adjoining eloquent structures.

Traditional approaches to medial temporo-occipital intra-axial brain tumors carry the risk of visual disturbance or language dysfunctions related to brain retraction or transgression of deep fiber tracts.

Preserving subcortical connectivity is crucial in optimizing functional outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for intraaxial tumors. 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.