Abstract
The emerging field of connectomics has provided an improved understanding of the structural
and functional organization of the human brain into large-scale brain networks. Recent
studies have helped define the canonical neurological networks and outline how considering
their presence may aid in surgical decision-making in brain tumor patients. Gliomas
represent one of the most common types of brain tumor and often involve displacement
and/or infiltration of neurological pathways, suggesting an opportunity to use connectomic
maps to improve patient morbidity and mortality based on oncofunctional goals. This
review aims to provide a working knowledge of important neurological networks, examine
the use of networks in surgical planning, and describe the current literature discussing
the impact of these networks on clinical outcomes in glioma resection.
Keywords
connectomics - glioma - glioblastoma - neurooncology - networks