Magnetic Particle Imaging in Neurosurgery

Background: Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a novel radiation-free tomographic imaging method that provides a background-free, signal attenuation-free, direct quantification of the spatial distribution of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with high temporal resolution (milliseconds), high spatial resolution (<1 mm), and extreme sensitivity (μmol). The technique is based on nonlinear magnetization of the SPIONs when exposed to an oscillating magnetic field. MPI was first described in 2001. Since then, the technique has been applied to experimental imaging of diseases affecting different organs in the human body. The aim of this paper is to review the potential applications of MPI in the field of neurosurgery.

Methods: A nonsystematic review of the existing literature on the use of MPI in neurosurgical diseases was performed.

Results: MPI has been used for the detection of locoregional invasion of brain tumors, tracking, and monitoring the viability of neural stem cells implanted for neuroregenerative purposes, diagnosis of cerebral ischemia, and diagnosis and morphofunctional assessment of brain aneurysms.

Conclusions: MPI is at a preclinical stage. In the future, human-sized MPI scanners, along with the optimal toxicity profile of SPIONs will allow diagnostic applications in neurosurgical diseases.