IMPACT OF NEURONAVIGATION ON SURGICAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH INTRACRANIAL TUMORS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Neuronavigation is an advanced surgical technique that uses preoperative images, such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to create a three-dimensional map of the brain, assisting the neurosurgeon during surgery. The objective of this research was to evaluate the application of the neuronavigation imaging system in patients undergoing surgical removal of intracerebral tumors. This was a retrospective study that analyzed 183 microsurgical interventions for the resection of intracranial neoplasms performed at Hospital São Lucas (Cascavel/PR) between January 2023 and December 2024. The data collected included demographic information, surgical complications, operating times, and the use or not of neuronavigation. The results demonstrated that the use of neuronavigation was associated with a significant reduction in operative time, with an average of 216 ± 6 minutes for guided procedures, in contrast to 276 ± 7 minutes for surgeries without the technology, representing an average reduction of 60 minutes. Additionally, neuronavigation allowed for smaller craniotomies, as indicated by the ratio between the Tumor Area and the Craniotomy Area (0.54 without navigation vs. 0.79 with navigation). It was also found that the group that used neuronavigation presented lower rates of postoperative neurological deficits and lower rates of residual tumor. Despite the study's limitations, such as the retrospective design and the small sample size that used navigation, the findings suggest that neuronavigation is an essential tool that improves efficiency, precision, and safety, contributing to better surgical outcomes in patients with intracranial tumors.