The intersect of neurosurgery with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

Abstract

An invited article highlighting diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Journal of Neurosurgery, a journal known to define surgical nuance and enterprise, is paradoxical since DIPG has long been relegated to surgical abandonment. More recently, however, the neurosurgeon is emerging as a critical stakeholder given our role in tissue sampling, collaborative scientific research, and therapeutic drug delivery. The foundation for this revival lies in an expanding reliance on tissue accession for understanding tumor biology, available funding to fuel research, and strides with interventional drug delivery.

Keywords: BBB = blood-brain barrier; CED = convection-enhanced delivery; DIPG; DIPG = diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; MRgFUS = MR-guided focused ultrasound; biopsy; brainstem glioma; diffuse pontine glioma; oncology; surgery.