Feasibility of Transcranial Focused Ultrasound to Measure Brain Tumor

Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) offers a platform for non-invasive imaging and treatment of the brain and pathology of the brain -- allowing high resolution imaging in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Compared with the gold- standard for brain imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound offers reduced contrast while providing improved sampling in time through a significantly more cost-effective approach. In addition, while MRI is used to guide invasive treatments, only ultrasound can offer treatments through three primary mechanisms: 1) neuromodulation, 2) blood brain barrier modulation, and thermal/mechanical ablation through high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). All three treatment options require targeting therapy through the skull, which remains a barrier to clinical translation. This proposal is to test the feasibility of acquiring noninvasive targeting imaging intraoperatively prior to clinically indicated cranial neurosurgery. By acquiring volumetric ultrasound images while coregistered to previously obtained stereotactic magnetic resonance imaging, the study will be able to compare the ability of tFUS to identify and focus on brain pathology.

Inclusion Criteria:Able to undergo informed consentScheduled and present for brain surgeryGeneral Anesthesia plannedNeuronavigation used for surgeryThin cut post-contrast imaging available for coregistrationAt least 18 years of ageExclusion Criteria:Awake craniotomy plannedUnhealed wounds or infection of scalpDiseases and conditions that would increase the morbidity and mortality of craniotomy and tumor resection (e.g. cardiopulmonary issues) in the opinion of the PI.Pregnancy (also generally required for surgery)