title: Preoperative three-dimensional model creation of magnetic resonance brain images as a tool to assist neurosurgical planning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurosurgeons regularly plan their surgery using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, which may show a clear distinction between the area to be resected and the surrounding healthy brain tissue depending on the nature of the pathology. However, this distinction is often unclear with the naked eye during the surgical intervention, and it may be difficult to infer depth and an accurate volumetric interpretation from a series of MRI image slices.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this work, MRI data are used to create affordable patient-specific 3-dimensional (3D) scale models of the brain which clearly indicate the location and extent of a tumour relative to brain surface features and important adjacent structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is achieved using custom software and rapid prototyping. In addition, functionally eloquent areas identified using functional MRI are integrated into the 3D models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary in vivo results are presented for 2 patients. The accuracy of the technique was estimated both theoretically and by printing a geometrical phantom, with mean dimensional errors of less than 0.5 mm observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This may provide a practical and cost-effective tool which can be used for training, and during neurosurgical planning and intervention.
authors: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Spottiswoode
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: van den Heever
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Chang
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Engelhardt
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Du Plessis
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Nicolls
authors: H B
authors: HB
authors: Hartzenberg
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gretschel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D057234:Preoperative Period