Sanju Lama1, Boguslaw Tomanek2, Garnette R. Sutherland1
1Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 2Clinical Neurosciences, Experimental Imaging Center, University of Calgary , Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Intra-operative MR imaging (iMRI) and fiber tracking using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) provides 3D knowledge of white matter tracts anatomy and their relationship to neurosurgical pathology intra-operatively. Image quality and definition is dependent on magnetic and gradient field strengths. A single center prospective study including 177 patients using 3.0T iMRI system, showed that intra-operative DTI tractography can be a valuable adjunct to neurosurgery affecting neurosurgical planning in up to 16% of cases. Furthermore such a discipline provided an excellent educational forum for the discussion of white matter anatomy in relation to the target lesion amongst residents and staff neurosurgeons.