Who is a good candidate for this procedure, and who should avoid it?

Good candidates include patients with suspected high-grade gliomas (e.g., glioblastoma) or other intra-axial brain tumors located near or within eloquent cortex (areas controlling speech, motor, or sensory functions). The procedure is particularly beneficial for tumors that show contrast enhancement on MRI and are amenable to fluorescence-guided visualization. Contraindications include patients with severe claustrophobia or medical conditions that prevent safe intraoperative awakening (e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, severe anxiety disorders, or respiratory compromise). Additionally, tumors that are deeply infiltrative or located in non-eloquent regions may not require the awake component.