MRI DIAGNOSTICS OF FUNCTIONALLY SIGNIFICANT BRAIN TUMORS IN CHILDREN AND OPTIMIZATION OF SURGICAL APPROACHES

Аннотация

This study investigates the role of advanced MRI techniques in optimizing surgical strategies for pediatric brain tumors located in functionally significant areas. A total of 80–120 children aged 0–18 years were included, with 40 patients undergoing MRI, MR-tractography, and functional MRI, while 40 patients formed the control group without advanced imaging. The research focuses on improving surgical planning, minimizing neurological damage, and enhancing quality of life. Clinical outcomes, surgical radicality, and neurological and neuropsychological statuses were evaluated. Results indicate that image- guided approaches significantly improve surgical precision and reduce postoperative complications, especially in complex tumor localizations near eloquent brain regions. Keywords: Pediatric brain tumors, functional MRI, tractography, neurosurgery, eloquent cortex, neuroimaging, surgical planning. Relevance Brain tumors in children, especially those located in functionally significant (eloquent) regions, pose a major challenge due to the high risk of neurological deficits after surgery. Conventional neuroimaging methods are often insufficient for accurate preoperative planning. The development and integration of advanced MRI techniques—such as MR-tractography and functional MRI— enable precise mapping of motor, sensory, and language areas, facilitating safer surgical interventions. However, these techniques are still underutilized in many pediatric neurosurgical centers. By comparing clinical outcomes between children who received advanced imaging and those who did not, this study provides critical data supporting the use of high-resolution, functional neuroimaging. The findings are especially relevant for pediatric patients previously deemed inoperable due to tumor proximity to eloquent areas. The research highlights the need to standardize the application of neuro-navigation and imaging-assisted surgery in pediatric neuro-oncology to minimize trauma, 90 SCIENCE AND INNOVATION IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM International scientific-online conference reduce complications, and ultimately improve both survival and quality of life outcomes in children. Objective: To optimize the diagnosis and surgical treatment of brain tumors in children located in functionally significant regions by applying modern MRI techniques for selecting the safest neurosurgical approach and determining the extent of resection.