Awake Craniotomy for Resection of Diffuse Astrocytoma During Pregnancy: A Case Report

Abstract

Brain tumors rarely present during pregnancy; however, a life-threatening interaction may develop between maternal and disease factors. Moreover, awake surgery has been an infrequent treatment option during this life stage. We contribute to this knowledge gap by presenting the case of a 33-year-old woman who developed tonic-clonic seizures during the 18th week of pregnancy due to a neoplastic lesion near the left motor area. A multidisciplinary team performed an awake craniotomy for tumor resection and the histopathological examination revealed a diffuse astrocytoma. On the follow-up, radiotherapy was administered and the patient delivered a healthy newborn at week 37.