This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pandin, P. Articles by Dewitte, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pandin, P. Articles by Dewitte, O.

---

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Open Low-Field Intraoperative MRI for Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery

Department of Anesthesiology; ppandin{at}ulb.ac.be (Pandin) Department of Neurosurgery; CUB Erasmus Hospital; Brussels, Belgium (Dewitte)

To the Editor:

Nemergut et al. (1) recently reviewed perioperative management for transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. However, one ongoing problem is verifying complete removal of the tumor. Studies suggest that complete removal of macroadenoma only occurs approximately 60% (2). To address this, low magnetic field MRI scanners are being developed for intraoperative use (3). These devices permit immediate postoperative MRI imaging of the pituitary, facilitating assessment of whether the tumor was completely excised before awakening the patient from anesthesia (see Fig. 1 below). The MRI can be set up in an existing operating room without special electromagnetic insulation (4). Since installing an MRI in our operating theater two and a half years ago, we have used it in 85 patients. Our incidence of complete surgical removal of pituitary tumors has increased to 90%, which is clearly a benefit to our patients.

View larger version (49K): [in this window] [in a new window]

REFERENCES

1. Nemergut EC, Dumont AS, Barry UT, Laws ER. Perioperative management of patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Anesth Analg 2005;101:1170–81[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. Mortini P, Losa M, Barzaghi R, Boari N, Giovanelli M. Result of transphenoidal surgery in a large series of patients with pituitary adenoma. Neurosurgery 2005;56: 1222–33[Web of Science][Medline]
3. Berkenstadt H, Perel A, Ram Z, Feldman Z, Nahtomi-Shick O, Hadani M. Anesthesia for magnetic resonance guided neurosurgery initial experience with a new open magnetic resonance imaging system. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol 2001;13:158–62[Web of Science][Medline]
4. Levivier M, Wikler D, De Witte O, Van de Steene A, Baleriaux D, Brotchi J. Polestar N-10 low field compact intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging system with mobile radiofrequency shielding. Neurosurgery 2003;53:1001–6[Web of Science][Medline]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pandin, P. Articles by Dewitte, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pandin, P. Articles by Dewitte, O.