Cranial sonolucent prosthesis: a window of opportunity for neuro-oncology (and neuro-surgery)

Multiparametric Intraoperative Ultrasound in Oncological Neurosurgery: A Pictorial Essay

“…To this end, we sought that every craniotomy performed, not only for brain tumors but also for other neurosurgical cases, such as trauma, epilepsy, or vascular cases, will be used as an opportunity to better understand brain physiopathology in real-time. Closing up the patients with prosthesis that allow for post-operative imaging, and eventually therapy, will allow to carry this opportunity in a post-operative setting as well ( del Bene et al, 2022 ). Nevertheless, further research and efforts regarding improvements, training, standardization, and reproducibility of intraoperative ultrasound modalities as stand-alone tools and in a multiparametric fashion are still required.…”

Neuroimaging through Sonolucent Cranioplasty: A Systematic Scoping Review Protocol

“…SC can be used for preventative and observational purposes which include but are not limited to sonographic detection of brain tumor recurrence, monitoring of cerebral blood flow and Doppler imaging of vessel collateralization, and measuring ventricular size for hydrocephalus [ 8 ]. Although our review focuses on the diagnostic imaging capabilities of TCUS, SC also can be used to perform several therapeutic techniques, including delineation of microbubbles with blood–brain barrier disruption to improve drug delivery and focused ultrasound ablation of brain malformations [ 7 , 16 ].…”

“…Sonolucent cranioplasty (SC) implants provide an unprecedented opportunity in adult neurosurgery to conduct neuromonitoring, evaluate hemodynamics, visually track devices located within the implant, and perform focused ultrasound treatments [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Current research on SC has utilized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyolefin as sonolucent materials [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The first publication detailing diagnostic imaging through cranioplasty was published by Mursch et al in 2018 using PEEK cranioplasty implants [ 9 ].…”

“…Despite a large amount of clinical evidence supporting the use of cranioplasty and the frequency that these surgical procedures are performed, there is a dearth of knowledge about outcomes and risk factors associated with SC. Previous research on SC has been largely limited to proof-of-concept studies and case series [ 3 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Letter: First Experience With Postoperative Transcranial Ultrasound Through Sonolucent Burr Hole Covers in Adult Hydrocephalus Patients

“…4,5 Various case series and bench top studies were subsequently published, [6][7][8][9] including groups focused on polyolefin cranioplasties. 10,11 The largest case series to date was an early outcome analysis of 55 patients with clear PMMA cranioplasties by Shay et al 8 Applications for this technology so far have included hydrocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, tumor, arterial bypass, and intracerebral hemorrhage. In fact, our institution is currently leading a prospective clinical trial for the application of transcranioplasty ultrasonography after minimally invasive intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation.…”