MRI-guided celiac plexus block

Celiac plexus block is used as a palliative procedure in cases of severe up per abdominal pain caused by pancreatitis or tumors of the pancreas. It can be guided by bony landmarks, fluoroscopy, ultrasound (US), or computed tom ography (CT). To avoid severe complications, methods visualizing soft tissu e, like CT and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, are preferable. We describe celiac plexus blocks carried out in an open MR scanner, offering needle gu idance with an optical tracking system and near realtime image acquisition. Eight patients with severe chronic abdominal pain were included. In these. 14 celiac blocks were carried out. Good or total pain relief was achieved in 8 of the 14 blocks (57%), a moderate effect in 5 blocks (36%), and no ef fect in 1 block (7%). The placement of the needle was easily guided with MR in all cases. The MR technique ensures good visualization of soft tissue, direct monitoring of needle movement and avoids exposure to ionizing radiat ion. Celiac plexus block can safely be carried out In an open MR scanner. J . Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000; 12:562-564. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.