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NEUROSURGERY NEWSFirst in Orange County!UC Irvine Medical Center is equipped for enhanced tumor extraction with the intraoperative MRI scanner (iMRI) as of 2006, making us the only facility south of Los Angeles with this state-of-the-art technology at that time. Combining this latest intra-operative resonance imaging system with the expertise of UCI's fellowship-trained neurosurgeons, tumor patients are able to have more precise surgery, faster recovery times, fewer follow-up operations, and safer outcomes. With the iMRI, neurosurgeons no longer need to rely on images to guide them through difficult procedures. The breakthrough technology of the magnetic resonance imaging permits viewing of the brain in real time during, before, and after the surgery. Thanks to the help of electromagnetic waves, highly-detailed views of the brain are produced as the operation unfolds. As a result, the neurosurgeons at UCI are able to pinpoint the tumor locations with incredible accuracy and remove the growth with minimal disruption to healthy brain tissues. "We can see exactly where the tumor ends and normal tissue begins," said Dr. Mark E. Linskey co-director of the Neuro-Oncology Program at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"As the County's only Univeristy oncology unit, UC Irvine is staying at the forefront of new technology and experimental protocols. This is the future, the emerging of interventional radiology and surgery in the same suite," said Dr. Linskey. "As it enters the mainstream, intraoperative MRI will have a major impact on the way brain surgery is performed worldwide." |
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University of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA 92697 (949) 824-5011 © 2006 The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.
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One of the most important features of the iMRI is its ability to monitor subtle shifts in the brain so neurosurgeons can stay meticulously on target. The soft composition of the tissues tend to shift around during surgery, causing some tumor parts to be missed. Therefore, follow-up operations are required to remove the remaining tumor parts. The iMRi helps avoid this type of situation and reduce follow-up operations because surgeons are able to assess the extent of tumor resection before completion of the surgery.