Functional MRI enables the noninvasive evaluation of epilepsy and brain tumor patients, and is a powerful tool that improves surgical decision making as a valid alternative to invasive testing techniques. fMRI is not only less time consuming than current alternatives, it requires no patient recovery time and is less costly; while still providing critical predictive information regarding post-surgical deficits.

"fMRI is not only less time consuming... it requires no patient recovery time and is less costly."

A variety of recent studies have verified that using fMRI for presurgical planning can positively affect a patient’s surgical outcome. By utilizing fMRI, neurosurgeons are given additional knowledge regarding the functional area surrounding a tumor, increasing surgical confidence. In the majority of cases where fMRI is used as a presurgical mapping tool, surgeons are able to be more aggressive with their surgical plan, increasing the chances for a successful resection.