Real-time intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in vascularized spinal tumors: a technical note

Backgrounds: Intra-operative ultrasound (ioUS), and the recently introduced contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) demonstrated to be an extremely valuable tool in oncological cerebral neurosurgery. Methods: The authors applied ioUS/CEUS techniques to spinal oncological surgery as showed in the illustrative case of a dorsal hemangiopericytoma. Results and conclusions: ioUS and CEUS provide real-time information that proved useful in identifying both vascular and parenchymatous tumoral patterns, anatomical relations with nervous structure, plan surgical strategy, and identify residuals. It allows to visualize unexposed anatomical and pathological structures within the parenchyma and is a valuable guide during resection.