Recreating the original contour in tumor deformed mandibles for plate adapting.

Use of stereolithographic models of the resection areas in mandibular tumor surgery allows for preoperative adapting of resection plates, and shortening operating time. Adapting reconstruction plates along the deformed resection contour, however, recreates the existing, unfavorable contour. The computer-aided procedure that generates the stereolithographic model, nevertheless, allows for digital manipulation of the data, to reestablish the required contour. Here are two cases that benefited from this simple method.