Usefulness of Volume Rendering Stereo-movie in Neurosurgical Craniotomies

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Radiological Technology Vol. 63; no. 12; pp. 1370 - 1376
• Main Authors: Fukunaga, Tateya, Mokudai, Toshihiko, Fukuoka, Masaaki, Maeda, Tomonori, Yamamoto, Kouji, Yamanaka, Kozue, Minakuchi, Kiyomi, Miyake, Hirohisa, Moriki, Akihito, Uchida, Yasufumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Japanese Society of Radiological Technology 20.12.2007
• Subjects: aneurysm; arteriovenous malformation (AVM); Brain Neoplasms - surgery; Craniotomy - methods; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Intracranial Aneurysm - surgery; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Meningioma - surgery; Motion Pictures; stereo-movie; volume rendering (VR); weighted maximum intensity projection (Weighted MIP)
• ISSN: 0369-4305; 1881-4883
• DOI: 10.6009/jjrt.63.1370

In recent years, the advancements in MR technology combined with the development of the multi-channel coil have resulted in substantially shortened inspection times. In addition, rapid improvement in functional performance in the workstation has produced a more simplified imaging-making process. Consequently, graphical images of intra-cranial lesions can be easily created. For example, the use of three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo (3D-SPGR) volume rendering (VR) after injection of a contrast medium is applied clinically as a preoperative reference image. Recently, improvements in 3D-SPGR VR high-resolution have enabled accurate surface images of the brain to be obtained. We used stereo-imaging created by weighted maximum intensity projection (Weighted MIP) to determine the skin incision line. Furthermore, the stereo imaging technique utilizing 3D-SPGR VR was actually used in cases presented here. The techniques we report here seemed to be very useful in the pre-operative simulation of neurosurgical craniotomy. (Article in Japanese)