title: Standardized 3D documentation for neurosurgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although direct volume visualization is now a standard tool for diagnosis and therapy planning for medical conditions in the brain, its application is normally restricted to radiological workstations. We propose the use of standardized digital video sequences which can be easily ported to mobile computing platforms and thereby to diverse clinical environments. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated in the operating room.
  
  
  METHODS
  Segmented MR data corresponding to neurovascular compression syndrome pathologies was examined with 3D visualization based on tagged volumes. CT-angiography data containing aneurysms close to the skull base was analyzed with volume visualization based on bidimensional transfer functions. Furthermore, automatic adjustment of bidimensional transfer function templates was implemented. An extension of the applied volume visualization tool made it possible to standardize the creation of pathology-specific digital video sequences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five cases of neurovascular compression syndromes and 4 cases of aneurysms close to the skull base were examined. One-dimensional transfer function templates were successfully applied for the visualization of neurovascular compression syndromes. Automatic adjustment of transfer function templates made it possible to achieve good-quality results for visualization of aneurysms without external adjustment. The resulting digital video sequences were successfully used in the operating room.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The portability of the 3D video sequences broadens their application spectrum, making them adequate not only for database purposes, but also for surgical support and cooperative environments. Furthermore, the required technical knowledge is encapsulated, making this approach more suitable for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Neurocenter, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. vega@neurozentrum.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vega Higuera
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naraghi
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nimsky
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fahlbusch
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hastreiter
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000098:blood supply; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface