The new generation polestar n20 for conventional neurosurgical operating rooms: a preliminary report

The objective of this work is to present the preliminary clinical experience we acquired in using the new PoleStar generation, N20 (Medtronic Navigation, Louisville, CO), in a modified conventional operating room.

PoleStar N20 is a 0.15-T, intraoperative scanner combined with both an integrated optical and a magnetic resonance imaging tracking scanner. All standard imaging modes, such as T1, T2, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, are available through the magnet. To shield the operating room from radiofrequency interference, a Faraday cage was constructed using a conductive metal mesh installed under the wall decoration. Sixty-one patients, most of whom had gliomas or pituitary adenomas, underwent intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in our clinic. The extent of resection and the surgical consequences of intraoperative imaging were analyzed.

The image quality for T1-weighted, gadolinium-enhanced tumors was sufficiently good to enable us to evaluate the extent of tumor resection, whereas the T2-weighted image quality must be improved. New technologies, such as high-temperature superconductive coils and ultra-small super-paramagnetic iron particles, e.g., ferumoxtran-10, can lead to a dramatic improvement in image quality, heralding the commencement of the widespread use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

The acquisition of the PoleStar N20 opened new horizons in the treatment of our patients. This novel, compact, intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging scanner can be installed in a standard operating room without major modifications. Standard surgical instruments can be used. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging provided valuable information that allowed intraoperative modification of the surgical strategy.