Functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3T as a clinical tool in patients with intracranial tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3T as a clinical tool in the preoperative evaluation of patients with intracranial tumors. High magnetic field strength such as 3T is of benefit for fMRI because signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to susceptibility changes are field-strength-dependent.


METHODS
Twenty patients with tumors close to eloquent sensorimotor or language areas were studied. Motor, sensory, and two language paradigms (word generation, rhyming) were used; their effectiveness was determined as the percentage of patients in whom the functional area of interest was activated. Activation maps were calculated and their quality rated as high, adequate, or insufficient. The influence of fMRI on the neurosurgical decision regarding operability, surgical approach, and extent of the resection, was assessed.


RESULTS
Paradigm effectiveness was 90% for motor and 95% for sensory stimulation, and varied from 79% to 95% for word generation and rhyming in combination. Ninety percent of the activation maps held high or adequate quality. fMRI proved useful: in the decision to operate (9 patients), in the surgical approach (13 patients), and in extent of the resection (12 patients).


CONCLUSIONS
fMRI at 3T is a clinically applicable tool in the work-up of patients with intracranial tumors.
Van Westen
D
D
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. danielle.vanwesten@skane.se
Skagerberg
G
G
Olsrud
J
J
Fransson
P
P
Larsson
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology