The Increasing Role of Fiber Tracking in Functional Radiosurgery Planning

Nader Pouratian, MD, from the University of California Los Angeles discusses the increasing role of fiber tracking in functional neurosurgery in a field enabled by technology, precision and advanced imaging. He begins by discussing advances in imaging, such as structural imaging, its future requirements as well as limitations in terms of functional neurosurgery. He then goes into detail about diffusion tensor imaging and tractography and its usefulness in determining connectivity between white matter. He addresses why connectivity is important to understand in the brain. Finally, he then delves into specific indications that can benefit from this type of tractography.