Three-Dimensional Imaging in Neurosurgical Research and Education.
OBJECTIVE
We describe the setup and use of different 3-dimensional (3-D) recording modalities (macroscopic, endoscopic, and microsurgical) in our laboratory and operating room and discuss their implications in neurosurgical research and didactics. We also highlight the utility of 3-D images in providing depth perception and discernment of structures compared with 2-dimensional (2-D) images.


METHODS
The technical details for equipment and laboratory setup for obtaining 3-D images were described. The stereoscopic pair of images was obtained using a modified "shoot-shift-shoot" method and later converged to a 3-D image. For microsurgical procedures, 3-D images were obtained using an integrated 3-D video camera coupled to the surgical microscope in both the laboratory and the operating room. Illustrative cases were used to compare 2-D and 3-D images.


RESULTS
Side-by-side comparisons of 2-D and 3-D images obtained using all modalities revealed that 3-D imaging was superior to 2-D imaging in providing depth perception and structure identification.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report in the literature of the methodology for obtaining 3-D endoscopic endonasal images using the 2-D endoscope. The use of 3-D imaging is invaluable in neurosurgical research and education, as it provides immediate depth perception (third dimension), allowing efficient understanding of key spatial relationships. Integration of 3-D imaging in neurosurgical residency programs may increase learning efficiency and shorten learning curves. However, use of 3-D imaging should not replace direct hands-on practice.
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. Electronic address: arnaubenet@gmail.com.
Arnau
A
Benet
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Halima
H
Tabani
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Dylan
D
Griswold
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Xin
X
Zhang
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Olivia
O
Kola
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Ali Tayebi
AT
Meybodi
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Michael T
MT
Lawton
D035843:Biomedical Research; D001921:Brain / Q000601:surgery; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods; D000067369:Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods
Education; Endoscopic endonasal; Neurosurgery; Photography; Stereoscopic; Three-dimensional (3-D)