Clinical functional magnetic resonance imaging for pre-surgical planning--the Singapore General Hospital experience with the first 30 patients.
BACKGROUND
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a neuroradiological technique for the localisation of cortical function. FMRI made its debut in cognitive neuroscience and then eventually to other clinical applications. We report our experience with pre-surgical fMRI on a high field scanner, based purely on a clinical platform.


METHODS
The protocols included motor, auditory, visual and language fMRI. The choice of protocols was dependant on clinical request and lesion locale.


RESULTS
Retrospective analysis and audit of the fi rst 30 consecutive patients over a 12-month period revealed that about 85% of patients had a successful examination. In a pictorial essay, we demonstrate that patients with weakness in performing a motor task showed abnormal activations of the pre-motor and supplementary motor areas.


CONCLUSIONS
FMRI data greatly enhances the pre-surgical planning process and the conduct of surgery when it is incorporated into the surgical navigation system in the operating theatre.
Rumpel
Helmut
H
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. helmut.rumpel@sgh.com.sg
Chan
Ling Ling
LL
Tan
Judy S P
JS
Ng
Ivan H B
IH
Lim
Winston E H
WE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore