MR-GUIDED ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

We describe an interactive, intraoperative imaging-guided method for p erforming endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) within a vertically open MR s ystem. The procedure was performed with intraoperative imaging using a 0.5-T magnet with a 56-cm vertical gap. Interactive control of imagin g planes was accomplished by optical tracking with two infrared light- emitting diodes mounted on an aspirator probe. The probe's position de fined the location of the orthogonal imaging planes. Twelve patients w ith varying degrees of sinus disease underwent ESS with MF: imaging gu idance. Patients had acute and chronic sinusitis, nasal polyposis caus ing airway obstruction, or tumor requiring tissue biopsy. All procedur es were performed with the patients under general anesthesia. The inte gration of endoscopy with optical tracking and intraoperative interact ive imaging allowed localization of anatomic landmarks during ESS. No complications were encountered.