Cortical stimulation:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cortical stimulation in awake craniotomy maps eloquent brain areas before tumor resection to avoid functional loss. It's performed pre-resection to define safe boundaries, localizing motor, sensory, and language areas, including hearing-related regions in the temporal lobe. Electrodes are applied directly to the cortex, not indirectly, for precision. Wernicke's area, in the dominant temporal lobe, is critical for language comprehension, and stimulation identifies it by eliciting speech errors (e.g., paraphasia). Seizures can occur, managed with cold saline irrigation, not warm. The ability to pinpoint Wernicke's area is pivotal, as its preservation ensures postoperative language function, balancing oncologic goals with quality of life in eloquent cortex surgeries.
Nokea