Tests

Once surgery is agreed upon, you will be
given instructions for “pre-operative” lab work.
Depending on the procedure to be done and
your age, the doctor will order blood tests and
a chest x-ray to verify your overall health. These
will be done a few days before the procedure.
Additional images of your brain may be taken
to help your doctor locate the tumor’s precise
location. These scans can also be used to
help the team plan your surgical procedure.
Highly sensitive scans are used for this purpose
and may include:
• Computerized Tomography (CT )
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Your doctor might request functional imaging
scans taken while you speak, read, write, or
move your arms or legs. These are called
functional MRIs, echo-planar MRIs, or ultra-
SURGERY
fast MRIs. These scans help define vital areas
of the brain which control language and
movement centers.
Vital areas can also be defined by a procedure
called brain mapping. At the beginning of the
surgery, tiny electrodes are placed on the outer
layer of the brain. Stimulating these electrodes
helps the neurosurgeon determine the functions
of those sensitive parts of the brain so they can
be avoided during surgery.