Question

minimally invasive techniques such as endoscopic endonasal surgery allow surgeons to access the brain through the nasal passages, significantly reducing damage to surrounding tissues. this has led to shorter hospital stays for patients; studies have shown that those who received traditional invasive surgeries stayed on average two weeks more at the hospital. while such techniques have not just become technically feasible—similar procedures could have been performed even a decade ago—their effectiveness has only become meaningful within the past couple of years due to advances in imaging technologies. the improved real - time feedback now available has enhanced surgical precision of minimally invasive techniques to the point that in most typical cases there is little benefit to be gained by opting for invasive procedures.
4 ◇ mark for review
what is the main purpose of the text?
a to describe the benefits of minimally invasive neurosurgery for healthcare systems through a delineation of benefits in both healthcare outcomes and financial efficiency.
b to emphasize the role of advanced imaging in reducing damage to surrounding tissues during invasive surgery.
c to outline the advantages of minimally invasive neurosurgery and the development in a field that warrants their usage.
d to portray the relative effectiveness of a new form of procedure by detailing the shortcomings of traditional methods through specific examples.

Explanation:

• Option A: The text does not mention "financial efficiency" or focus on benefits for healthcare systems, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The text is about minimally invasive techniques, not "advanced imaging" as the main focus, and it's about minimally invasive (not invasive) surgery reducing tissue damage, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: The text first describes benefits of minimally invasive neurosurgery (shorter hospital stays, reduced tissue damage) and then explains the development (advances in imaging making their effectiveness meaningful), which matches "outline the advantages... and the development... warranting their usage".
• Option D: The text is not mainly about portraying the new procedure's effectiveness by detailing traditional shortcomings; it also discusses the development of the minimally invasive technique, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. To outline the advantages of minimally invasive neurosurgery and the development in a field that warrants their usage.