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Brain Surgery Improved with Intra-operative MRI Scanner

New technology – a first for Orange and San Diego counties - improves outcomes for patients with brain tumors

Orange, Calif., October 18, 2006 — Patients who undergo brain surgery at University of California, Irvine Medical Center will soon have faster recovery times; better, safer outcomes; and a greater chance at more complete tumor resections thanks a new intra-operative, magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) scanner that produces highly detailed, three-dimensional pictures of the brain. This latest advancement in patient care at UC Irvine Medical Center will be of great benefit to all patients with brain tumors, pituitary tumors and epilepsy.

The iMRI technology produces clear, detailed images during the actual operation that allow surgeons to precisely pinpoint a tumor’s exact location before, during and after an operation in real time. Its greatest advantage is that it can track surgical instruments within the skull and alert surgeons to the slightest movement of the brain while the surgery is underway. “Because brain tissue is soft, it can shift during surgery,” said Dr. Mark Linskey, associate professor and chair, Department of Neurological Surgery, and co-director, UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Neuro-Oncology Program. “Detecting where tumor growth ends and healthy tissue begins can be challenging but the new detailed images provided by the intra-operative MRI will make complete and safe tumor extraction more likely.”

The improved surgical navigation and precision from using this new technology will help ensure that healthy tissues and other critical structures in the brain remain intact. “There is no doubt that the iMRI will enhance the overall effectiveness and safety of neurosurgical procedures,” said Linskey. “The system will maximize the surgeon’s ability to completely remove the tumor without harming the patient’s healthy brain tissue.”

In the past, neurosurgeons did not have access to detailed images of the brain during surgeries. Instead, surgeons relied on scans of the brain pre- and post-surgery to verify if the tumor had been completely removed. If unhealthy tissue was still visible, another procedure was often required to ensure the tumor’s complete removal. The iMRI will reduce the need for multiple procedures because surgeons will be able to assess the extent of tumor resection before completion of the surgery. “Being able to verify that the entire tumor has been taken out before a patient leaves the operating room will reduce the need for secondary, follow-up procedures,” said Linskey. “This will save time but more importantly, grant patients quicker recoveries and less complications.”

Adults and children who are considered high risk will be among the first to benefit from this new technology because their tumors will now be operable. Currently, there are only 38 intra-operative MRIs available worldwide and UC Irvine Medical Center is the only hospital south of Los Angeles to have one. Experts believe the system will eventually be an asset not only for the eradication of brain tumors, but also for other types of neurosurgery.

“As the only academic neurosurgery service in Orange County, we aim to be the primary site for highly specialized neurosurgical care in our community,” said Linskey. “Coupled with the expertise of our well-trained surgeons, the iMRI will have a dramatic impact on our ability to provide this advanced level of care to our patients and help us further clinical studies and neuroscience research as we move forward.”

To consult a UC Irvine neurosurgeon about eligibility for the intra-operative MRI, call toll free 1-877-UCI-DOCS or visit www.healthcare.uci.edu.

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About University of California, Irvine Medical Center: UC Irvine Medical Center is the only university hospital in Orange County, offering acute- and general-care service. It has the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Included in its University Children’s Hospital is the county’s most sophisticated neonatal unit, caring for more than 500 premature and at-risk infants a year. UC Irvine Medical Center also is the only hospital in Orange County recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing of “America’s Best Hospitals” and first to receive Magnet Designation for nursing excellence.

Contact:
Susan Mancia
Public Information Officer
(714) 456-3640
smancia@uci.edu