Task-Based and Resting-State Functional MRI in Observing Eloquent Cerebral Areas Personalized for Epilepsy and Surgical Oncology Patients: A Review of the Current Evidence.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is among the newest techniques of advanced neuroimaging that offer the opportunity for neuroradiologists, neurophysiologists, neuro-oncologists, and neurosurgeons to pre-operatively plan and manage different types of brain lesions. Furthermore, it plays a fundamental role in the personalized evaluation of patients with brain tumors or patients with an epileptic focus for preoperative planning. While the implementation of task-based fMRI has increased in recent years, the existing resources and evidence related to this technique are limited.

Can apparent diffusion coefficient values help distinguish between different types of pediatric brain tumors?

Rationale And Objectives: Classifying brain tumors is challenging, but recently developed imaging techniques offer the opportunity for neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons to diagnose, differentiate, and manage different types of brain tumors. Such advances will be reflected in improvements in patients' life expectancy and quality of life. Among the newest techniques, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), which tracks the rate of microscopic water diffusion within tissues, has become a focus of investigation.