Intraoperative MRI: safety.

Intraoperative and interventional MR have opened a new chapter in neurosurgery bringing both new therapeutic opportunities and creating unique safety challenges for the MR operating room. The presence of a large magnetic field in the otherwise familiar environment of the operating room necessitates site-specific comprehensive policies for safety, staff training, infection control, and MR compatibility. Intraoperative MRI also creates unique MR image interpretation challenges that are of paramount significance for patient safety. These safety concerns are reviewed with particular reference to the nine years experience of the authors.