[Objectivity of therapeutic results following skull base surgery using virtual model analysis].
BACKGROUND
Virtual model analysis of patient head tracking allows for objectivity and the monitoring of therapeutic results of pathologies in the skull base region. The introduction of these models in clinical routine has been impaired by the extended time needed for the preparation of radiological data.


METHODS
Quality control analysis was carried out for seven cases with different pathological findings in the skull base region in patients who had undergone virtual model analysis.


RESULTS
Preparation time of radiological data for the process of segmentation required, under optimal conditions, a minimum of 30 min. Virtual model analysis enables spatial visualization of regions of interest and adjacent anatomical structures. This improves case-specific pathoanatomical understanding as well as preoperative planning of surgical strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Virtual model analysis improves the physician's spatial comprehension of localized pathological findings at the dysmorphic interface of bone and soft tissue across the skull base. Therefore, it seems to be an adequate tool for quality control analysis of therapeutic results after extended skull base surgery.
Schipper
J
J
Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg. schipper@hno1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Klenzner
T
T
Berlis
A
A
Maier
W
W
Offergeld
C
C
Schramm
A
A
Gellrich
N-C
NC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface