Virtual reality in MRI

There is a need for visualization. Surgeons have always been unhappy with the visualization available to them: restricted field of view, lack of contrast between target and surrounding tissues, and the inability to see beneath the surface. This has led to the introduction of every available imaging technique such as microscopy, plain X-rays, ultrasound and even CT. MRI has not yet entered the OR because of its complexity, both in terms of combining the MR environment with surgery and because of the costs involved. However, all the intraoperative imaging techniques, as well as the presentation of preoperatively-obtained images during surgery currently rely on simple image display methods. Only insignificant amounts of computerized image preprocessing techniques are available to the surgeon. The task of interpretation and integration of multiple image data sets during surgery (i.e. preoperative and intraoperative imaging information with view of surgical field) is left for the surgeon to perform in his mind. This is a very demanding task and would require support through an imaging specialist