title: Color-encoded distance visualization of cranial nerve-vessel contacts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Visualization of pathological contact between cranial nerves and vascular structures at the surface of the brainstem is important for diagnosis and treatment of neurovascular compression (NVC) syndromes. We developed a method for improved visualization of this abnormality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Distance fields were computed using preoperative MRI scans of individuals with NVC syndromes to support the topological representation of brainstem surface structures with quantitative information. Polygonal models of arteries, cranial nerves and the brainstem were generated using segmented T2 weighted MR data. After color-coding the polygonal models with the respective distances, enhanced color visualization of vessel-nerve locations with possible contacts was achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed method was implemented and applied to surgical planning in a dozen cases of NVC syndrome. Two selected cases were chosen to demonstrate the feasibility and subjective improvement provided by our visualization technique. Expert neurosurgeons found the improvement valuable and useful for these cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Color-encoded distance information significantly improves the perceptibility of potential nerve-vessel contacts. This method contributes to a better understanding of the complex anatomical situation at the surface of the brainstem and assists in planning of surgery.
authors.affiliation: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. suessmuth@cs.fau.de
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Süssmuth
authors.forename: Wassilios-Daniele
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Protogerakis
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Enders
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naraghi
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hastreiter
mesh_terms: D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*
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