Use of the Radionics Image Fusiontrade mark and Stereoplantrade mark programs for target localization in functional neurosurgery.

We describe the use of Radionics Image Fusiontrade mark and Stereoplantrade mark in defining the target for thalamotomy and pallidotomy in functional surgery for parkinsonism and tremor. Using this to fuse and spatially correct magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to computed tomography (CT) images our calculated targets were a mean of 0.6 +/- 1.5 mm from the end target determined physiologically by stimulation. This is significantly better than the values of 2.6 +/- 1.6 mm for thalamic targets and 7.1 +/- 3.7 mm for pallidal targets using CT alone. As a consequence, determination of the target and the lesion making are routinely performed in one pass of the electrode allowing for faster, more accurate and, we believe, safer functional procedures.