Limitations for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging through a bore-hole trepanation.
The intraoperative shift of neuroanatomical landmarks that serve as reference points is an unsolved problem in current neuronavigation. Monitoring the position of these landmarks requires repeated intraoperative imaging. We analyzed the effectiveness of a 3-D ultrasound system for imaging through a bore-hole trepanation. A tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom and plastic pads with bore-holes were utilized for in vitro tests of the system. Reducing the diameter of the simulated bore-hole decreased the image quality and reduced the field of view. The multiple plane mode of the 3-D ultrasound system allows reconstruction of images in arbitrary imaging planes on the basis of intraoperatively acquired 3-D datasets. Selecting planes that are coplanar with preoperative MRI scans, we were able to identify neuroanatomical landmarks in the reconstructed ultrasound images. Repeated 3-D ultrasound during a procedure might, therefore, allow recognition of a shift of these landmarks.
Departement Chirurgie, Kantonsspital Universitätskliniken, Basel, Switzerland.
N
N
Suhm
J
J
Dams
K
K
van Leyen
A
A
Lorenz
R
R
Bendl
D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004453:Echoencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014159:Transducers; D014207:Trephining