3D rotational fluoroscopy for intraoperative clip control in patients with intracranial aneurysms--assessment of feasibility and image quality.
BACKGROUND
Mobile 3D fluoroscopes have become increasingly available in neurosurgical operating rooms. In this series, the image quality and value of intraoperative 3D fluoroscopy with intravenous contrast agent for the evaluation of aneurysm occlusion and vessel patency after clip placement was assessed in patients who underwent surgery for intracranial aneurysms.


METHODS
Twelve patients were included in this retrospective analysis. Prior to surgery, a 360° rotational fluoroscopy scan was performed without contrast agent followed by another scan with 50 ml of intravenous iodine contrast agent. The image files of both scans were transferred to an Apple PowerMac® workstation, subtracted and reconstructed using OsiriX® free software. The procedure was repeated after clip placement. Both image sets were compared for assessment of aneurysm occlusion and vessel patency.


RESULTS
Image acquisition and contrast administration caused no adverse effects. Image quality was sufficient to follow the patency of the vessels distal to the clip. Metal artifacts reduce the assessability of the immediate vicinity of the clip. Precise image subtraction and post-processing can reduce metal artifacts and make the clip-site assessable and depict larger neck-remnants.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique quickly supplies images at adequate quality to evaluate distal vessel patency after aneurysm clipping. Significant aneurysm remnants may be depicted as well. As it does not require visual control of all vessels that are supposed to be evaluated intraoperatively, this technique may be complementary to other intraoperative tools like indocyanine green videoangiography and micro-Doppler, especially for the assessment of larger aneurysms. At the momentary state of this technology, it cannot replace postoperative conventional angiography. However, 3D fluoroscopy and image post-processing are young technologies. Further technical developments are likely to result in improved image quality.
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany. Westermaie_T@ukw.de.
Thomas
T
Westermaier
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Thomas
T
Linsenmann
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
György A
GA
Homola
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Mario
M
Loehr
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Christian
C
Stetter
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Nadine
N
Willner
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Ralf-Ingo
RI
Ernestus
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany.
Laszlo
L
Solymosi
Abteilung für Neurochirurgie, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Feschnigstraße 11, 9020, Klagenfurt am Woerthersee, Austria.
Giles H
GH
Vince
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software
D003287:Contrast Media
3D fluoroscopy; Aneurysm surgery; Angiography; Clip control; Contrast; Image quality; Intraoperative; Post-processing; Vessel patency