Use of a compact intraoperative low-field magnetic imager in pediatric neurosurgery

Excerpt

Intraoperative real-time imaging has been the subject of case reports for more than a decade [1, 2]. The early MR technology involved high Tesla strength magnets and required moving the patient a distance away from the magnet in order to safely use regular surgical instruments. This incurs higher operating costs. Lower magnetic field strength has allowed the use of regular surgical instruments, but with a more limited field of view. Kanner published his results in an adult series using the same PoleStar low-field magnet [3]. Surgeon access to the patient is also a limiting factor with stronger field magnets. Smaller patients, such as in pediatric neurosurgery, allow a broader range of positioning options. Lam reported nine successful posterior fossa resections [4]. Nimsky and colleagues have recently published their extensive experience with children and demonstrated equal success rates [5]. Time added to surgery has been reduced as more experience is gained with this technology (to an average of 84 min in the latter part of this series). The greatest benefit appears to be in gauging the extent of resections. …