The use of three-dimensional computed tomography for assessing patients before laparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) in delineating the relationship of the adrenal mass to adjacent normal structures in preparation for laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy.


METHODS
Multislice CT (1 mm slices, 0.5 s rotation time) was used to evaluate 12 patients before adrenal-sparing surgery for aldosterone-producing adenoma or phaeochromocytoma. The CT data were reconstructed using two rendering techniques; (i) volume rendering with the modified VOLREN software (Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA) which allowed interactive 3D examination of the whole data volume within a few minutes; (ii) surface representations only of the interesting structures (kidney, adrenal tumour, vessels) represented in different colours and depicted together in a 3D scene using the software package 3DVIEWNIX.


RESULTS
In all, 14 adrenal masses in 12 patients were evaluated with 3D-CT; the number and location of lesions was accurate in all cases with both rendering techniques. The coloured surface-rendered images showed a consistently better delineation of the adrenal tumour from the normal tissue than did the volume-rendering technique. From this information all laparoscopic partial adrenalectomies could be completed as planned.


CONCLUSIONS
Interactive visualization of volume-rendered CT images was helpful for the planning and successful performance of the procedure, but coloured surface-rendered CT provided more convenient, immediate and accurate intraoperative information.
Mitterberger
Michael
M
Department of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria. micheal.mitterberger@uibk.ac.at
Pinggera
Germar-Michael
GM
Peschel
Reinhard
R
Bartsch
Georg
G
Pallwein
Leo
L
Frauscher
Ferdinand
F
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D000450:Aldosterone