The use of surface coils for magnetic resonance-guided interventional procedures.

The advantages of surface coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of superficial structures include improvement in signal and decreased noise. There is now a growing use ofMRI to guide interventional procedures [1–4]. Because of the geometry of needles and other interventional devices, which extend outside the patient, optimal head receiver coils often cannot be used for imaging and the lower signal-to-noise body coil must be used because of its large size.