Elucidation of nerve conduction and hardness factor of brain tumor : Development of function-sparing surgery with safety method

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18397
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56010:Neurosurgery-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Iwatate Kensho 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (70566554)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: stiffness / Haptic sensor / brain tumor / elasticity / nerve conduction / velocity

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to (1) develop a device to measure the stiffness of brain tumors (haptic sensor), which is related to the difficulty and risk of surgery during brain tumor surgery, and (2) develop a device to measure nerve conduction velocity to distinguish between brain tumors and normal brain to improve the removal rate, and actually developed two devices. Using the developed haptic sensor, it was found that the stiffness of brain tumors (meningiomas) softens over time after removal. The fact that the area of meningiomas that had undergone tumor embolization and necrosis softened compared to the surrounding area was quantitatively demonstrated.

Free Research Field

脳腫瘍の硬さと神経伝導

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

開発した脳腫瘍の硬さ測定装置と神経伝導速度の測定装置を用いることで、手術中に見た目では区別しにくい腫瘍と脳の境界を見極めることが可能となる。腫瘍と脳の境界がわかれば、腫瘍の摘出率と併せて脳の温存率を高めることが可能となる。最終的には、脳腫瘍患者の機能予後と生命予後の向上に寄与することが可能となる。