Abstract
In recent years, the interest in clinical applications of functional neuroimaging techniques like functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) or modern Magneto- or Electro- Encephalography (MEG-EEG) has steadily grown as have discussions about possible standardizations of these methodologies. The modern techniques allow non-invasive localization of essential brain functions with the potential to extend or even replace invasive clinical technologies (1–4). The focus of this article is to discuss standardization options in using functional MRI for clinical cases, mostly in the context of medical decision aid for planning treatment (radiotherapy and surgery).
Highlights
Reviewed by: Menno Michiel Schoonheim, VU University Medical Center, Netherlands Roland Wiest, University of Bern, Switzerland
Whilst functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has been used successfully in research for healthy subjects and patient groups, the situation is complicated for using fMRI as a clinical tool for individual patients
Current clinical functional imaging protocols vary considerably across institutions in non-standardized ways. Despite this situation, recent reviews of fMRI for presurgical evaluation of patients with epilepsy or brain tumors recommend the application of fMRI in certain contexts showing probable or possible usefulness for patients [levels B and C, [8, 9]]
Summary
Reviewed by: Menno Michiel Schoonheim, VU University Medical Center, Netherlands Roland Wiest, University of Bern, Switzerland. Every pathology (even within the same disease) is different in type, location, extent, and pathophysiological consequences (e.g., concerning effects on the hemodynamic response function HRF)—this has to be considered for functional imaging protocols Due to this complexity, current clinical functional imaging protocols vary considerably across institutions in non-standardized ways. Current clinical functional imaging protocols vary considerably across institutions in non-standardized ways Despite this situation, recent reviews of fMRI for presurgical evaluation of patients with epilepsy or brain tumors recommend the application of fMRI in certain contexts showing probable or possible usefulness for patients [levels B and C, [8, 9]]. In this situation and since procedural variability immediately affects validity and repeatability of fMRI results, a burning question for clinical functional neuroimaging is: can we standardize clinical fMRI procedures and to what extent?
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