Did you know that sometimes, patients are kept awake for part of brain tumor removal surgery? It might sound intense, but awake craniotomies actually open the door to advanced techniques that can protect critical brain functions.
One of these techniques is called intraoperative brain mapping and monitoring. It involves identifying and tracking areas of the brain responsible for essential cognitive functions (like language) while the surgery is happening. As one part of the team focuses on removing the tumor, another monitors brain activity and function.
In other words: We can map the brain in real time!
Awake for Brain Surgery
Did you know that sometimes, patients are kept awake for part of brain tumor removal surgery? It might sound intense, but awake craniotomies actually open the door to advanced techniques that can protect critical brain functions.
One of these techniques is called intraoperative brain mapping and monitoring. It involves identifying and tracking areas of the brain responsible for essential cognitive functions (like language) while the surgery is happening. As one part of the team focuses on removing the tumor, another monitors brain activity and function.
In other words: We can map the brain in real time!
A New Service Line
At University of Utah Health, neuropsychologists Brittany Lang, PhD, and Jazmin Mogavero, PhD, have helped launch an intraoperative brain mapping and monitoring program. Partnering with experts across Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Oncology—including neurosurgeon Randy Jensen, MD, PhD—they’ve built a highly collaborative service line.
Here’s how it works: as neurosurgeons stimulate different areas of the brain, neuropsychologists administer quick cognitive tests to assess whether language or other thinking skills are affected. They communicate findings in real time, so if a loss of function is detected, the surgical team may avoid removing that specific tissue, preserving the patient's abilities after surgery.
Other Uses
Conversely, if there’s a chance to be more aggressive in tumor resection, neuropsychologists can test to confirm whether a specific area that the surgeons were to remove contains any integral functional skills. This balance helps optimize tumor removal while protecting what matters most to each patient.
Both Dr. Lang and Dr. Mogavero are passionate about supporting patients with cancer. Beyond the operating room, they hope to expand general outpatient practices and offer cognitive assessments at other stages of cancer treatment.
For example, tracking thinking skills before and after radiation therapy can help identify and manage changes in cognitive function. Long-term survivors of childhood cancers may also benefit, especially if treatment affected the brain during development.
Supporting Patients Across the Mountain West
Intraoperative brain mapping and monitoring doesn't just enhance surgical precision—it can lead to more complete tumor removal, reduce the risk of recurrence, and improve long-term outcomes. At University of Utah Health, this service supports patients from across the Mountain West, including Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana.
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Learn more about our experts:
Dr. Brittany Lang | Dr. Jazmin Mogavero | Dr. Randy Jensen