Treatment of (pediatric) neuro-oncologic disease is very complex. Surgery is aimed at radical removal of the tumor, the smaller the residual lesion the better the chances of survival.

In 2022 an intra-operative MRI has been installed in the Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology. The use of MRI during surgery can aid in a more radical removal of the tumor with smaller chance of damage to the brain and a better survival and quality of life after surgery.

Advanced MRI data is capable of capturing functional parameters of the brain that could indicate ongoing changes during the surgical process (pre-, per- and post-operative). In this way we could increase our understanding of tissue at risk and damage to the brain due to surgery.

In this research line we are exploring the potential of measuring cerebral blood flow before and during surgery in the intraoperative MRI scanner. Eventually, this could give us information on potential vasospasm or ischemic infarcts that can appear on cerebral blood flow MRI data

This research line is part of a collaboration between UMC Utrecht and Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology.