Three-dimensional reconstruction of the superior mediastinum from Chinese Visible Human Female.
OBJECTIVE
This research aimed to construct three-dimensional (3D) visible models of the superior mediastinum for anatomic study and surgical approaches to the superior mediastinum.


METHODS
Sectional images of the superior mediastinum were acquired through the Chinese Visible Human Female (VCHF) database. One hundred eighty images of the superior mediastinum were imported into Photoshop CS and the images were converted into a JPEG format. Surface and volume reconstruction were performed by 3D Doctor 3.5 and Amira 4.0 software programs on an ordinary personal computer, respectively.


RESULTS
The surface and volume reconstruction of the superior mediastinum were successful. The surface reconstruction model allowed rotation and magnification of the superior mediastinum structures as well as displayed the contours of reconstructed structures individually or as a composite with any other selected structure. Volume reconstruction displayed abundant internal detail of reconstructed images in transverse, coronal, sagittal, and random oblique sections.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional, visible models of the superior mediastinum based on the sectional images of VCHF can provide unique insight into the anatomy of superior mediastinum. These models provide an excellent adjunct to the anatomy curriculum in medical schools and an invaluable tool for the practicing surgeon planning an operation in this complex anatomic region.
Huang
Yi-Xing
YX
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, 109 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325027, Zhejiang, China.
Jin
Lian-Zhou
LZ
Lowe
Jason A
JA
Wang
Xiang-Yang
XY
Xu
Hua-Zi
HZ
Teng
Yu-Jing
YJ
Zhang
Hua-Zhen
HZ
Chi
Yong-Long
YL
D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012984:Software; D053443:Visible Human Projects