Clinical_Neurological Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (NANO) scale
Standardized assessment of neurological functional status in patients with brain tumour.
Score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating worse neurological status.
Clinical_Karnofsky Performance Status
Clinical assessment of functional independency for patients with brain tumour. Score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing higher levels of functional independency.
Clinical_upper limb_9 Hole Peg Test
Clinical assessment of hand dexterity. Results are measured in seconds to complete a dexterity task (take pegs one at a time from a container and place in nine holes, and then back in the container). The lower the time taken to complete the task, the better the performance.
Clinical_upperl limb_Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity
Clinical assessment of upper limb motor impairment. Score ranges from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better motor function.
Clinical_upper limb_Hand dynamometer
Clinical assessment of grip strength. Results are measured in kg, with higher scores indicating higher grip strength.
Clinical_upper limb_Deary-Liewald reaction time task
Computerized assessment of efficiency of basic processes for perception and response execution. Results are measured as time (milliseconds) between stimulus presentation and response execution. The shorter the time interval, the better the performance.
Clinical_lower limb and balance_Fugl Meyer Lower Extremity
Clinical assessment of lower limb motor impairment. Score ranges from 0 to 34, with higher scores indicating better motor function.
Clinical_lower limb and balance_Brunel Balance Assessment
Clinical assessment of balance. Score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating better performance.
Clinical_lower limb and balance_Six minute walking test
Submaximal test of aerobic capacity. Results are measured as the total distance (meters) walked during six minutes. The longer the distance, the better the performance.
Clinical_EORTC-QLQ-C30*
questionnaire of quality of life for oncological patients. All of the EORTC scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a higher response level. Thus a high score for a functional scale represents a high / healthy level of functioning, a high score for the global health status represents a high quality of life, but a high score for a symptom scale represents a high level of symptomatology / problems.
*European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ: quality of life questionnaire
Clinical_EORTC-BN20
EORTC* brain cancer module. All of the EORTC scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a higher response level. In this case, a high score for a symptom scale represents a high level of symptomatology / problems.
*European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
Clinical_EORTC-FA12
EORTC* fatigue module. All of the EORTC scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a higher response level. In this case, a high score for a symptom scale represents a high level of fatigue.
*European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
Clinical_Revised Barcelona Test
Battery of clinical assessments for high cognitive functions, including: language, writing, reading, memory, imitation of gestures and postures, constructive praxis, orientation, arithmetics and comprehension.
Normative data indicate a mean of 100 and standard deviations of 15, range 40-160.
Higher score means better performance. Scores under 80 are considered below the normality.
Clinical_WAIS-III Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Clinical assessment of verbal, manipulative and total intelligent quotient. Normative data indicate a mean of 100 and standard deviations of 15, range 40-160.
Higher score means better performance. Scores under 80 are considered below the normality.
Clinical_Trail Making Test
Clinical assessment of visual attention, sequencing, flexibility and graphomotor ability.
Results are reported as time to complete the task, and number of errors. Higher score means worse performance.
Clinical_Continuous Performance Test-III
Clinical assessment of sustained attention. Results are reported as reaction time, and number of errors (omission and commission). Higher score means worse performance.
Clinical_Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test
Clinical assessment of auditory verbal memory. Score ranges between 0 and 75 (immediate memory), 0 and 15 (delayed memory), 0 and 15 (recognition- errors (commission and ommission). The higher the score, the better the performance.
Clinical_WMS-IV Wechsler Memory Scale
Clinical assessment of memory functions. Normative data indicate a mean of 100 and standard deviations of 15, range 40-160.
Higher score means better performance. Scores under 80 are considered below the normality.
Clinical_Symbol Digit Modalities Test
Clinical assessment of visual tracking, concentration and visuomotor speed. Total score is the result of summing the number of correct substitutions within the 90 second interval (max = 110). Higher score means better performance.
Clinical_PMR Verbal fluency by letters.
Clinical assessment of lexical access and verbal fluency. Count up the total number of words beginning with the requested letter that the person is able to produce in one minute. Three letters (PMR) are requested and the final score is the sum of the three attempts. Higher scores means better performance.
Clinical_Hayling Test
Clinical assessment of behavioural regulation, initiation speed and response inhibition. The test is divided in part A (0-15) and B (0-45). Answers are classified as correct (0 points) or incorrect (1 point) and reaction time is also measured. Higher score (more errors) imply a lower performance.
Clinical_Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
Clinical assessment of executive function. Outcome measures of categories achieved (higher means better performance), trials, errors, and perseverative errors (the lower the score, the greater the efficiency of the examinee in the task)
Clinical_Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Clinical assessment of anxiety and depression. The total score is the sum of each item. Final score ranges from 0 to 21 with the highest scores indicating the highest levels of anxiety and depression: 0-7 (Normal) 8-10 (Mild) 11-15 (Moderate) 16-21 (Severe).
Neuroimaging_structural MRI
Assessment of tumour location, volume (voxels, cm3) and distribution (based on neuroanatomical atlases)
Neuroimaging_resting state fMRI
Assessment of regional interaction in the brain (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging), during a rest condition.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neuroimaging_fMRI_Word generation task
Assessment of brain activity (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging) when the patient is asked to mention words starting with a certain letter.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neuroimaging_fMRI_Semantic decision task
Assessment of brain activity (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging) when the patient is asked to mention objects from certain places.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neuroimaging_fMRI_Comprehensive auditive task
Assessment of brain activity (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging) when the patient is asked to listen to a story.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neuroimaging_fMRI_Finger tapping task
Assessment of brain activity (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging) when the patient is asked to perform a fingering exercise.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neuroimaging_fMRI_Ankle flexion task
Assessment of brain activity (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging) when the patient is asked to move the corresponding foot up and down slowly.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neuroimaging_fMRI_Tongue movement task
Assessment of brain activity (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast imaging) when the patient is asked to move the tongue in circles, without opening the mouth.
High resolution multiband (anterior posterior phase-encoding, acceleration factor = 8) interleaved acquisitions (T2 - weighted echo-planar imaging scans, repetition time = 800 ms, echo time = 37 ms, 750 volumes, 72 slices, slice thickness = 2 mm, Field-of-view = 208 mm).
Neurophysiology_TMS mapping_hotspot
Determination of the cortical target (x, y, z coordinates ijn MNI space) where motor evoked potentials were elicited with the lowest TMS stimulus intensity.
The muscle used as reference is the first dorsal interosseus (electrodes placed with belly-tendon montage).
Motor evoked potentials (MEP) are defined as those voltages produced 25 to 50 milliseconds after the TMS stimulus, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of at least 50 microVolts.
Neurophysiology_TMS mapping_resting motor threshold
Determination of the resting motor threshold (RMT), relatively to the hotspot. A cortical target is defined as MEP positive if at least 3 out of 6 MEP could be elicited.
To determine RMT, stimulus intensity is progressively reduced until less than 3 MEP out of 6 are elicited. RMT corresponds to this stimulus intensity + 1.
Neurophysiology_TMS mapping_motor function
Mapping of the motor area for the first dorsal interosseus, with intensity of 120% RMT.
5 stimuli are delivered to each cortical target, with 5 seconds of interval in between. Cortical mapping is then created by averaging the peak-to-peak amplitude (microVolts) resulting from the stimulation of each target.
Neurophysiology_TMS mapping_language function
Mapping of language function in regions corresponding to Broca and Wernicke areas, with intensity of 90% RMT (one train of 5 pulses, 5 Hertz). Images are presented, one at a time, on a screen placed in front of the patient. At the same of image presentation, stimulation is delivered (for a total of one second), and audio recording initiates (for a total of 4 seconds). A neuropsychologist is present to determine whether there was any interference in the verbal response due to TMS stimulation.
If any interference appears, for instance paraphasia o anomia, the cortical target is considered positive for language, hence functionally related to speech processing; otherwise, it is considered negative.
Surgical outcomes
Descriptive report of surgical outcomes, including results from intraoperative brain mapping, the absolute and relative volume (voxels, cm3) of tumour removed, adverse events, neurological status post-surgery, and tumour classification based on clinical and histological findings.