BrainSuite Intraoperative MRI

The Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas recently completed construction of BrainSuite, a state-of-the-art, fully-integrated MRI and operating room for brain surgery.  The first of its kind in this area, it allows the opportunity to not only get real-time imaging information during surgery, but also provides the ability to perform an MRI prior to leaving the operating room.

Both the “real-time” stereotactic imaging and the intraoperative MRI technologies have been around for several years.  However, the BrainSuite combines both of these capabilities.

This gives the surgeon an opportunity to evaluate the extent of tumor resection prior to completion of surgery.  It can also be instrumental when operating on deep or critical brain structures, where visualization can be limited.

Dr. Castillon has experience with intraoperative MRI for brain surgery dating back to one of the first few models available in the late 1990s.  However, the BrainSuite is a significant improvement over the earlier models, mainly because of the interactive (“live” feedback) component it provides.

His first case involved a large tumor located in the motor cortex of the brain in a patient experiencing numbness and weakness because of the tumor.  It was successfully removed, and the BrainSuite verified complete tumor removal prior to leaving the operating room.  The patient is doing well.

The BrainSuite at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas is named after Nancy Hamon, whose generous donation helped make this technology available.