title: The values of thin sections and three-dimensional reconstruction in the sellar region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The computerized freezing milling technique is derived from the virtual human project. It has been widely used in three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the human body and organs. With this technique, the study was undertaken to explore the 3D features and adjacent anatomic relationships of the sellar region for skull base surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Continuous thin sections on the coronary plane were performed with the computerized freezing milling technique using a human head specimen. The related structures were described in six sections. After segmenting, labeling, and extracting in serial sections, the 3D reconstruction of the sellar region was finished with Amira 4.1 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 390 thin coronary sections were obtained. In six sections, the anatomic relationships of the pituitary gland, carotid artery, sphenoid sinus, and nerves are displayed. Three-dimensional images of the sellar region are video films that continuously and dynamically display anatomic structures in 3D space at different velocities. It can show that the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery is located anterolateral to the sphenoid sinus and lateral to the pituitary gland. The optic nerve protrudes into the superolateral portion of the sphenoid sinus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of coronary sectional anatomy and 3D reconstruction can display the anatomic characteristics of the sellar region. The 3D models are video films that continuously and dynamically display anatomic structures in 3D space at different velocities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Linyi People's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shuwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xueyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Youyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhonghe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D035301:Cranial Fossa, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008867:Microtomy; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D012984:Software; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery