imaging_fusion

Table of Contents

🧠 Imaging Fusion

🧠 Imaging Fusion

Imaging fusion is the process of combining two or more medical imaging datasets—such as MRI, CT, PET, or fMRI—into a single spatially aligned view, used for better diagnostic and surgical accuracy.

✅ Key Characteristics

Uses software algorithms to align images from different modalities
Can be rigid (bone-based) or non-rigid (deformable tissue modeling)
Enhances visualization of anatomy, function, and pathology
Essential in neuronavigation, oncology, and stereotactic surgery

⚙️ Common Fusion Combinations

Modality 1	Modality 2	Purpose
MRI	CT	Combines soft tissue with bone detail for surgical planning
PET	MRI	Localizes metabolic activity within anatomical context
fMRI	MRI	Identifies functional brain areas prior to resection
CT	Intraop CT	Used in frameless stereotaxy and robotic navigation

📌 Clinical Example

“We fused the patient's MRI with intraoperative CT to align targets with robotic coordinates.”

🧠 Applications

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Tumor resection planning
Epilepsy surgery
Stereotactic biopsy or radiosurgery