Evaluation of Ultra-High Field MRI for Planning Brain Tumour Resection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Pre-operative Ultra-High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Planning Skull Base Tumour Resection
IRAS ID
358170
Contact name
Peter Jezzard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that is routinely used to view structures inside the head, such as the brain and surrounding structures, including blood vessels, tissues, and bone. MRI forms an image of the selected part of the body.
When planning for surgery for people with brain tumours, tumours are scanned to help the neurosurgeons plan treatment. This includes an assessment of the paths of small blood vessels around the tumour and the structure of the tumour itself. This is currently done with CT (computed tomography) imaging, which uses X-rays to create a 3D scan of the brain, and MRI techniques.
A new MRI technique has been developed by a research team at the University of Oxford. This technique involves using a stronger magnetic field with a new method to form pictures of the blood vessels in the head with a lower scan time. This technique has been tested in volunteers but has not been used with people with brain tumours.
This technique has the potential to improve the quality of images acquired of blood vessels around brain tumours without any ionising radiation (X-rays). This could improve the surgical planning process for people with brain tumours without exposing them to X-rays and could allow all of the scans that people need for surgery to be conducted in one session.
Related imaging techniques with this stronger magnetic field also have the potential to improve the quality of the images acquired of other surrounding structures, including bone and soft tissues.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0265
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion