The role of endoscopic assisted microneurosurgery (image fusion technology) in the performance of neurosurgical procedures.

The use of endoscopic techniques has gained significant popularity over the past decade. The potential advantages of angled lenses to visualize around tight corridors without retracting have proven to be an attractive feature. The limitation of endoscopy has been the inability to obtain a true three-dimensional perspective for which microscopy is ideal. Therefore we postulated that for complex intradural lesions the merger of the two technologies would prove to be ideal. In this paper we report our experience with simultaneous microscopy and endoscopy, using picture-in-picture technology, for intracranial vascular and oncological surgery. We have found it useful to offer enough visualization to allow for performing surgery and not just for inspection.