A fiducial skull marker for precise MRI-based stereotaxic surgery in large animal models.

Publication date: Available online 1 May 2017
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Author(s): Andreas Nørgaard Glud, Johannes Bech, Laura Tvilling, Hamed Zaer, Dariusz Orlowski, Lise Moberg Fitting, Dora Ziedler, Michael Geneser, Ryan Sangill, Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup, Carsten Reidies Bjarkam, Jens Christian Hedemann Sørensen
BackgroundStereotaxic neurosurgery in large animals is used widely in different sophisticated models, where precision is becoming more crucial as desired anatomical target regions are becoming smaller. Individually calculated coordinates are necessary in large animal models with cortical and subcortical anatomical differences.New methodWe present a convenient method to make an MRI-visible skull fiducial for 3D MRI-based stereotaxic procedures in larger experimental animals. Plastic screws were filled with either copper-sulphate solution or MRI-visible paste from a commercially available cranial head marker. The screw fiducials were inserted in the animal skulls and T1 weighted MRI was performed allowing identification of the inserted skull marker.ResultsBoth types of fiducial markers were clearly visible on the MRÍs. This allows high precision in the stereotaxic space.Comparison with Existing MethodThe use of skull bone based fiducial markers gives high precision for both targeting and evaluation of stereotaxic systems. There are no metal artifacts and the fiducial is easily removed after surgery.ConclusionThe fiducial marker can be used as a very precise reference point, either for direct targeting or in evaluation of other stereotaxic systems.



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