２１世紀における神経超音波の役割―ニューロナビゲーションを例に―

Abstract

Ultrasound has several advantages over CT or MRI, such as real-time data acquisition, mobility, cost-efficiency, and freedom from the risk of X-ray radiation injury and problems with the use of magnetic materials. Recent advances in ultrasonography, such as transcranial color-coded duplex imaging, broad bandwidth scanning, 3-dimensional ultrasound and ultrasonic contrast medium, have enabled the development of new methods of clinical diagnosis. The diagnostic usefulness of ultrasonography is described as a tool for neuronavigation where intraoperative findings must be displayed in real time. Ultrasonography will help surgeons to make appropriate judgements regarding surgical procedures in relation to intraoperative shift of the brain, especially in cases of cystic lesion, ventricular or multiple lesions, which tend to be responsible for large brain shifts. Ultrasound will provide anatomical findings over the course of surgery and make up for the deficits of other diagnostic tools such as MRI. Ultrasound-based neuronavigation will thus become popularized. The role of neurosonology in 21st century medicine is thus discussed by reference to neuronavigation as an example.