Background: During brain surgery, the neurosurgeon must be able to identify and avoid injury
to the Rolandic cortex. However, when only a small part of the cortex is exposed,
it may be difficult to identify the Rolandic cortex with certainty. Despite various
advanced methods to identify it, visual recognition remains an important backup for
neurosurgeons. The aim of the study was to find any specific morphology pattern that
may help to identify the Rolandic cortex intraoperatively. Materials and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain from patients with various conditions was
used to create the three-dimensional cerebral reconstruction images. A total of 216
patients with 371 intact hemispheres were included. Each image was inspected to note
the morphology of the Rolandic cortex and the suprasylvian cortex. In addition, other
two evaluators exclusively inspected the morphology of the suprasylvian cortex. Their
observation results were compared to find the agreements. Results: A number of distinctive morphology patterns have been identified at the Rolandic
cortex and the suprasylvian cortex including a genu, or a knob at the upper precentral
gyrus (pre-CG), an angulation of the lower postcentral gyrus (post-CG), a strip for
pars opercularis, a rectangle for the lower pre-CG, and a triangle for the lower post-CG.
Combined total and partial agreement of the suprasylvian cortex morphology pattern
ranged 60.4%–85.2%. Conclusion: The authors have demonstrated the distinctive morphology of the Rolandic cortex and
the suprasylvian cortex. This information can provide visual guidance to identify
the Rolandic cortex particularly during surgery with limited exposure.
Key-words:
Cerebral cortex - morphology - Rolandic cortex - suprasylvian cortex - three-dimensional
reconstruction