Magnetic resonance susceptibility weighted imaging in neurosurgery: current applications and future perspectives.

Magnetic resonance susceptibility weighted imaging in neurosurgery: current applications and future perspectives. J Neurosurg. 2015 Jul 24;:1-13 Authors: Di Ieva A, Lam T, Alcaide-Leon P, Bharatha A, Montanera W, Cusimano MD Abstract Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a relatively new imaging technique. Its high sensitivity to hemorrhagic components and ability to depict microvasculature by means of susceptibility effects within the veins allow for the accurate detection, grading, and monitoring of brain tumors. This imaging modality can also detect changes in blood flow to monitor stroke recovery and reveal specific subtypes of vascular malformations. In addition, small punctate lesions can be demonstrated with SWI, suggesting diffuse axonal injury, and the location of these lesions can help predict neurological outcome in patients. This imaging technique is also beneficial for applications in functional neurosurgery given its ability to clearly depict and differentiate deep midbrain nuclei and close submillimeter veins, both of which are necessary for presurgical planning of deep brain stimulation. By exploiting the magnetic susceptibilities of substances within the body, such as deoxyhemoglobin, calcium, and iron, SWI can clearly visualize the vasculature and hemorrhagic components even without the use of contrast agents. The high sensitivity of SWI relative to other imaging techniques in showing tumor vasculature and microh...
Source: Journal of Neurosurgery - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Tags: J Neurosurg Source Type: research