title: Feasibility of Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring in Preventing Thermal Damage to the "Nerve at Risk" During Image-Guided Ablation of Tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess feasibility of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) during image-guided, percutaneous thermal ablation of tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2009 to October 2013, a retrospective review of all image-guided percutaneous thermal ablation interventions using IONM was performed and data was compiled using electronic medical records and imaging studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients were treated in 13 ablation interventions. In 4 patients, real-time feedback from the monitoring neurologist was used to adjust applicator placement and ablation settings. IONM was technically feasible in all procedures and there were no complications related to monitoring or ablation. All nerves at risk remained intact and of the 11 patients who could be followed, none developed new nerve deficit up to a minimum of 2 months after ablation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IONM is safe and feasible for use during image-guided thermal ablation of tumors in the vicinity of nerves. Outcomes in this study demonstrate its potential utility in image-guided ablation interventions.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. rmars1@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Erinjeri
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maybody
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult