Intraoperative MRI in functional neurosurgery. Preface.

摘要

Imaging technologies have led to tremendous advancements in the field of neurosurgery, and this merging of imaging with surgical techniques is particularly evident in the recent developments of interventional or intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI). Over the past 20 years, iMRI has evolved from a technique intended to improve the surgical outcome for brain tumor resections to one that is particularly well suited for the treatment of disorders in functional neurosurgery. As Guest Editors of this issue of Neurosurgery Clinics of North America, we have assembled a series of articles related to iMRI with topics spanning from the historical perspective of iMRI developments for brain tumor surgery, to the considerations of operating room safety and anesthesia, to technologic developments on both the hardware and software ends, to current uses for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and concluding with two articles that look to the future of neurosurgery with iMRI for gene therapy and cell transplantation.