The Journal of Young Investigators: An Undergraduate, Peer-Reviewed Science Journal
Volume 20, Issue 3. September 2010
Advanced MRI Predicts Outcome in Nerve Related Tumors
Multiple Neurofibromatosis in a woman. Neurofibromatosis presents with multiple tumors causing a social stigma. Image courtesy of SRB Manual of Surgery.
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29 January 2007 -
Along with the increasing complexities of medical science, advanced diagnostics tools have been developed to aid in diagnosis and treatment of patients. A powerful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been capable of predicting the surgical outcomes in complex nerve related tumors. Surgical team from Mayo clinic in Rochester reported a case series of five patients using the 3-Tesla MRI which appears in the December issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.
The team, lead by researcher Robert Spinner, used an advanced MRI system performed on a 3-Tesla magnet to help identify suitable candidates for a difficulty couldn't predict in which cases surgery could be performed safely.”
Of the reported five cases, four had neurofibromatosis (multiple tumor arising from nerve), a pre-tumorous condition and all the patients had ‘sciatic notch dumbbell-shaped’ tumors. Despite this being a benign tumor, the patients suffered from neurologic dysfunction and disabling pain.
These tumors were notorious for causing difficulty in complete resection (a surgical process of dissecting and removing) because they are relatively rare, anatomically difficult to reach and remove without injuring the main sciatic nerve and difficult to visualize before surgery with enough detail to distinguish tumor boundaries from nerve.
“This new technology allows a multidisciplinary approach to be performed safely in these rare tumors that were once considered unresectable,” says Dr Spinner. “In addition, the same techniques that we have developed have tremendous applications to many patients who have peripheral nerve tumors in more common locations.”
The team, lead by researcher Robert Spinner, used an advanced MRI system performed on a 3-Tesla magnet to help identify suitable candidates for a difficulty couldn't predict in which cases surgery could be performed safely.”
Of the reported five cases, four had neurofibromatosis (multiple tumor arising from nerve), a pre-tumorous condition and all the patients had ‘sciatic notch dumbbell-shaped’ tumors. Despite this being a benign tumor, the patients suffered from neurologic dysfunction and disabling pain.
These tumors were notorious for causing difficulty in complete resection (a surgical process of dissecting and removing) because they are relatively rare, anatomically difficult to reach and remove without injuring the main sciatic nerve and difficult to visualize before surgery with enough detail to distinguish tumor boundaries from nerve.
“This new technology allows a multidisciplinary approach to be performed safely in these rare tumors that were once considered unresectable,” says Dr Spinner. “In addition, the same techniques that we have developed have tremendous applications to many patients who have peripheral nerve tumors in more common locations.”
Journal of Young
Investigators. 2008. Volume 16.
Copyright © 2008 by Freel Kathryn and and JYI. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2008 by Freel Kathryn and and JYI. All rights reserved.