title: The creation and verification of cranial models using three-dimensional rapid prototyping technology in field of transnasal sphenoid endoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical navigation systems have been used increasingly in guiding complex ear, nose, and throat surgery. Although these are helpful, they are only beneficial intraoperatively; thus, the novice surgeon will not have the preoperative training or exposure that can  be vital in complex procedures. In addition, there is a lack of reliable models to give surgeons hands-on training in performing such procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A technique using an industrial rapid prototyping process by three-dimensional (3D) printing was developed, from which  accurate spatial models of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses (sphenoid sinus in particular), and intrasellar/pituitary pathology were produced, according to the parameters of an individual patient. Image-guided surgical (IGS) techniques on two different platforms were used during endoscopic  transsphenoidal surgery to test and validate the anatomical accuracy of the sinus models by comparing the models with radiological images of the patient on IGS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was possible to register, validate, and navigate accurately on these models using commonly available  navigation stations, matching accurately the anatomy of the model to the IGS images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These 3D models can be reliably used for teaching/training and preoperative planning purposes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. cmvwaran@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vicknes
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Waran
authors.forename: Roshni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Devaraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pancharatnam
authors.forename: Alwin Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rathinam
authors.forename: Yuwaraj Kumar
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: Tan Su
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Rajagopalan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prepageran
authors.forename: Hari
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Zainal Ariff Abdul
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D059747:Nasal Surgical Procedures; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D057285:Precision Medicine; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed