Use of magnetic resonance imaging in stereotactic surgery. A survey of members of the American Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.

Members of the American Society of Stereotactic Functional Neurosurgery were surveyed to determine the current use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for stereotactic coordinate determination. Of 137 respondents, 48% used MRI as the sole technique for some biopsy procedures. Of those performing functional surgery, more surgeons use MRI alone than CT alone for localization. Of those surgeons who used MRI alone for stereotactic surgery, 98.6% were satisfied with this method. Significant factors related to the use of MRI amongst individual surgeons included the performance of > or = 2 stereotactic surgeries per week, the performance of radiosurgery, and being in an academic practice (p < 0.0004). The increasing use of MRI in stereotactic surgery must be coupled with quality assurance testing from frame manufacturers, imaging manufacturers, and surgeons.