An integrated head-holder/coil for intraoperative MRI in open neurosurgery

with the invention of "open" magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) systems, acce ss to the patient is possible during the imaging procedure. An important ap plication of these systems is intraoperative MRI to control the extent of r esection during tumor surgery. Up to now flexible surface coils wrapped aro und, or placed at each side of the head, were used for imaging. These flexi ble coils have several disadvantages such as unreliability, interindividual problems, difficult handling, poor hygienic properties, and often unsatisf actory or inhomogeneous image quality. To solve most of these problems, an MR-compatible head-holder in combination with an integrated surface coil fo r use in a 0.2 T C-shaped magnet was developed. Forty-eight patients with k nown cranial tumors underwent MRI intraoperatively, In 32 patients (67%), r esidual tumor was found, and additional surgical resection was performed. T he integrated head-holder/coil Is a safe and practical tool for intraoperat ive MRI, providing efficient and reliable resection control during neurosur gical procedures. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.