title: Frameless stereotaxic integration of CT imaging data: accuracy and initial applications.
abstract: To evaluate the spatial accuracy of a rapid interactive method of transferring computed tomographic (CT) information between its display on a computer screen to its source (test object, operating field), a multidimensional computer combined with a six-jointed position-sensing mechanical arm was tested with a Plexiglas model consisting of 50 rods of varied height and known location, a plastic replica of the skull, and, subsequently, three patients. The median error value between image and real location was 1-2 mm (P > .95), regardless of the registration target sites. The accuracy, however, increased with the selection of widespread registration points, and 95% of all errors were below 3.70 mm (P > .95). The results compare favorably with the four most commonly used stereotaxic framed units. A misregistration error of 0.3-2.2 mm was found during intraoperative correlation between anatomy on the CT display and actual anatomic location in the operative field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zinreich
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tebo
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brem
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Mattox
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Loury
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: vander Kolk
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bryan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008961:Models, Structural; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed