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. The recent development of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging allows surgical resection to be performed through the eyes of the surgeon with concurrent magnetic resonance images. This advancement has revolutionized the way neurosurgical procedures are being performed.