[Value of magnetic resonance tomography for interventions in the ENT specialty].

Overview

PURPOSE: Presentation of new concepts and applications of MR-guided head and neck surgery are presented. Examples of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as evaluation of transseptal tumor biopsies, placement of afterloading catheters for brachytherapy, and microscopic surgery of paranasal sinuses in the open MRI are discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 MRI-guided ENT-procedures (14 transsphenoidal biopsies, one transnasal biopsy, 6 placements of brachytherapy catheters, and 3 operations of the paranasal sinuses) were performed in an open 0.5 T MR system. RESULTS: Localisation and/or extension of all lesions as well as the placement of biopsy needles or catheters were determined with great precision during the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical risk and postoperative morbidity are significantly reduced in MR-guided surgery of the petroclival region and the region of head and neck compared to other, conventional methods. Thus, interventional MRI-guidance optimizes minimal invasive surgery and catheter placement in difficult anatomical regions like the petroclival region.