Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI)

Overview

Intraoperative MRI

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At Mayo Clinic, skilled surgeons use high-resolution (high-field) intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) to clearly see brain tumors while performing surgery. Use of iMRI during tumor removal surgery greatly reduces the risk of damaging other parts of the brain and helps confirm successful removal of the entire tumor.

Mayo Clinic's experienced surgeons can use iMRI to remove brain tumors and pituitary tumors with greater accuracy and safety. They also use iMRI to place deep brain stimulator systems — medical devices implanted to send electric impulses to specific parts of the brain. Deep brain stimulator systems can be used to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, neuropsychiatric disorders and epilepsy.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Expertise and experience. Each year, Mayo Clinic's experienced and highly trained neurosurgeons perform iMRI on many people with brain tumors, which aids in discovering any part of the tumor that might remain and otherwise be overlooked.
• Latest research. Specialists at Mayo Clinic continue to develop new techniques for using iMRI to improve surgery outcomes, such as combining electrophysiologic brain mapping — also called EPM or functional brain mapping — with iMRI for glioblastoma surgery. Mayo Clinic is one of the select institutions worldwide that reports using this technique.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Learn more about brain tumors and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).