Application of Virtual Navigation with Multimodality Image Fusion in Foramen Ovale Cannulation.
OBJECTIVE
Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) can be effectively treated with radiofrequency thermocoagulation. However, this procedure requires cannulation of the foramen ovale, and conventional cannulation methods are associated with high failure rates. Multimodality imaging can improve the accuracy of cannulation because each imaging method can compensate for the drawbacks of the other. We aim to determine the feasibility and accuracy of percutaneous foramen ovale cannulation under the guidance of virtual navigation with multimodality image fusion in a self-designed anatomical model of human cadaveric heads.


METHODS
Five cadaveric head specimens were investigated in this study. Spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning clearly displayed the foramen ovale in all five specimens (10 foramina), which could not be visualized using two-dimensional ultrasound alone. The ultrasound and spiral CT images were fused, and percutaneous cannulation of the foramen ovale was performed under virtual navigation. After this, spiral CT scanning was immediately repeated to confirm the accuracy of the cannulation.


RESULTS
Postprocedural spiral CT confirmed that the ultrasound and CT images had been successfully fused for all 10 foramina, which were accurately and successfully cannulated. The success rates of both image fusion and cannulation were 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Virtual navigation with multimodality image fusion can substantially facilitate foramen ovale cannulation and is worthy of clinical application.
Departments of Radiology.
Xixiong
X
Qiu
Ultrasound.
Weizong
W
Liu
Departments of Radiology.
Mingdong
M
Zhang
Neurosurgery, the Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen University 1st Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Hengzhou
H
Lin
Shenzhen institutes of advanced technology, Chinese academy of sciences.
Shoujun
S
Zhou
Departments of Radiology.
Yi
Y
Lei
Departments of Radiology.
Jun
J
Xia
D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D054085:Foramen Ovale / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*
Cannulation; Image Fusion; Neuronavigation; Oval Foramen