Preoperative simulation and intraoperative navigation with three-dimensional functional images

Recent advances in computer graphics have facilitated three-dimensional image reconstruction from magnetic resonance (MR) imagea, contributing to better understanding of the morphological structure of the brain and to preoperative neurosurgical planning. Functional brain mapping used in conjunction with this three-dimensional imaging technique provides preoperative information regarding the three-dimensional relationship between the eloquent cortex and the location of lesions, and allows accurate preoperative planning. In this article, we present a preoperative simulation and intraoperative navigational system for use with three-dimensional functional images.