A novel method for three-dimensional analysis of endoscopic spatial relationships of pterygopalatine fossa structures and associated regions.
BACKGROUND
The spatial orientation rules of the important skull base structures are essential for performing endoscopic surgery. However, there is no satisfactory three-dimensional (3-D) anatomy study available to the surgeon at present. The aims of this study are to construct a new method to learn the spatial orientation of anatomical features under endoscopy and to help the surgeon establish a 3-D image of skull base structures in his mind.


METHODS
A modified MicronTracker navigation system was used to measure the pitch angle, direction angle and distance from the reference points to various anatomical landmarks of the pterygopalatine fossa and related structures (PPFRS) at the skull base in 10 fresh cadavers (20 sides).


RESULTS
The location data of the positions of the major landmarks were acquired and a digital model of the anatomical structures of the PPFRS was built, which can be moved, whirled or demonstrated easily.


CONCLUSIONS
It is practical to measure the positions of the anatomical structures of the PPFRS with a modified binocular vision-based MicronTracker navigation system. It is a valuable exploration tool to help the surgeon establish the orientation of surgical landmarks in his mind by the 3-D parameters and model.
Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Guo-Dong
GD
Feng
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Gao
Hong
H
Jiang
Yang
Y
Zha
Peng
P
Shen
Wei
W
Lv
D002102:Cadaver; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D056739:Pterygopalatine Fossa / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology*