Intraoperative and interventional MRI: recommendations for a safe environment.

In this paper we report on current experience and review magnetic resonance safety protocols and literature in order to define practices surrounding MRI-guided interventional and surgical procedures. Direct experience, the American College of Radiology White paper on MR Safety, and various other sources are summarized. Additional recommendations for interventional and surgical MRI-guided procedures cover suite location/layout, accessibility, safety policy, personnel training, and MRI compatibility issues.

Late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity after magnetic resonance image-guided prostate brachytherapy with or without neoadjuvant external beam radiation therapy.

Background: This study was designed to estimate the rates of late genitourinary (GU) and rectal toxicity after magnetic resonance image (MRI)-guided prostate brachytherapy exclusively or in conjunction with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Methods: Between November 1997 and April 2002, 201 patients with category T1C prostate carcinoma (according to the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging criteria), prostate specific antigen levels < 10 ng/mL, and biopsy Gleason score 3 + 4 disease were treated with MRI-guided brachytherapy exclusively or in conjunction with EBRT. The MRI-guided technique was designed to spare the urethra based on delivery of the prescription dose to the peripheral zone exclusively.

Brain tumor resections guided by magnetic resonance imaging.

A major goal of surgical treatment of intracranial tumors is to achieve complete resection of the lesion while also preserving normal brain tissue and function. Conventional stereotactic systems used today to localize intracranial lesions are based on previously acquired imaging data sets. These data sets cannot provide surgeons with information about dynamic changes that occur during surgery.