Virtual Preoperative Simulation for Excision of Spinal Tumors: Surgeon Processing of Medical Computer-Assisted Design Software.

As medical computer-aided design (CAD) has improved, virtual 3-dimensional medical images have been gaining more easily without any special practice. These images can be applied to various clinical fields. This article illustrates virtual preoperative simulation for excision of spinal tumors using medical CAD software. The software was used directly by the surgeon. The process of virtual preoperative simulation for spinal tumor surgery was found to be not inordinately complicated. And, virtual simulation was helpful in determining surgical steps as well as understanding the surgical anatomy.

INTRODUCTION

Computer-aided design (CAD) software has been applied to the automobile and aerospace industries since the 1970s. CAD increased productivity with predictable outcomes. As a result of its initial success, use of CAD technology has been widely spread, and applied to various other industries. In parallel, computed tomography (CT) scans have developed enough to represent the 3-dimensional (3D) structure of the living human body4). Advances in these technologies have resulted in the creation of virtual medical imaging and the medical CAD software to process it8). There are many examples of clinical practices using this software in various surgeries6,8). The applications extended from customized implants production to making intraoperative guidance5,7). There have also been various attempts to apply this software to spinal surgery5,6). Initially, such software was difficult to handle and required special training. However, the development of medical CAD software allows the surgeon to preview all the necessary surgical steps directly6). This article illustrates virtual preoperative simulation for excision of spinal tumors via medical CAD software, as used directly by a spinal surgeon.

TECHNICAL NOTE

The entire processing of CAD for virtual simulation of spinal tumor excision was performed by a spinal surgeon. Fine CT images of the spine were obtained. The thickness of each slice was 0.625 mm. Mimics 17.0 (Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium) software was used for image editing and visualization. CT scans were imported into digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format. To start the import wizard, the user first selects ‘File’ and then chooses ‘New Project Wizard.’ In the File Browser window, the surgeon can select where the images to be imported are found. The user then clicks the ‘Next’ button to proceed to the Studies window, and presses the ‘Convert’ button (Fig. 1A). If the image orientations are correct, the user then clicks the ‘OK’ button.

Fig. 1

(A) A window for selecting digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files. Select the folder containing DICOM files and click the ‘next’ button to proceed automatically. (B) A window for thresholding. The higher the threshold value, the more dense and enhanced the part selected. (C) Various colored masks representing different organs. Using the ‘edit mask’ button, some images could be hidden for confirmation of proper exposure. (D) Three-dimensional reconstruction of each mask. It was possible to identify proper surgical exposure through hiding some organ or planned bone resection areas.

To change the threshold value, the ‘Threshold’ button is used. A low threshold value makes it possible to select soft tissue. Convertsely, in high threshold values, dense and enhanced parts were selected (Fig. 1B). Each selected tissue was registered as a ‘mask’ of a different color. Using the ‘edit mask’ button, some bony structures were hidden to determine the extent of bone resection necessary to ensure that the tumor was fully exposed. Each organ (major vessels, bony structures, thecal sac and tumor) were distinguished by their respective colors (Fig. 1C). Then, the ‘Calculate 3D’ button is pressed to convert each mask into a 3D image. Reconstructed surgical field were rotated at various angles to find proper approaches for surgery (Fig. 1D). Additionally, the organs covering the tumor could be hidden to confirm the surgical steps required for tumor removal. And, the tumor also was hidden for confirmation of surrounding structures after totally tumor removal.

CASE REPORTS

Case 1: Large Schwannoma of the Sacrum

A 33-year-old female was transferred to Pusan National University Hospital due to sciatica. She had no documented medical history. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans demonstrated a well enhanced mass on the left side of the sacrum(Fig. 2A). A percutaneous biopsy was done and the pathologic diagnosis was found to be schwannoma. We planned total surgical resection. CT scans were obtained and virtual 3D model was reconstructed using Mimics (Fig. 2B, C). The extent of the laminectomy was determined (Fig. 2F). Bony margin after total tumor removal was also confirmed (Fig. 2G). During the actual surgery, the laminectomy was performed as planned, and the tumor was fully exposed (Fig. 2D, E). The tumor was removed entirely, and there were no surgery-related complications.

Fig. 2

Case 1. (A) Magnetic resonance image scans revealed a well-enhanced mass on the left side of the sacrum. (B) Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction (posterior view). (C) 3D reconstruction (anterior view). (D) During the actual surgery, we marked the place where the laminectomy would be performed. (E) After the laminectomy, the tumor was exposed fully. (F) Extent of laminectomy in which the tumor was fully exposed. (G) After tumor removal, the surrounding anatomy was confirmed.

Case 2: Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor of the Thoracic Spine

A 40-year-old male visited Pusan National University Hospital due to back pain and leg weakness. He had been previously diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. MRI scans of the spine revealed a well-enhanced mass on the thoracolumbar junction. The tumor eroded the vertebral body and extended into the pleura (Fig. 3A). CT scans were obtained and preoperative virtual planning was performed in the same method as described above (Fig. 3B, D–G). The extent of rib excision and laminectomy was determined (Fig. 3B, F). The surgery proceeded as planned virtually (Fig. 3C). The level of tumor exposure was similar to the virtual image (Fig. 3B, C). There were no surgery-related complications, and the patient achieved rehabilitation from leg weakness.

Fig. 3

Case 2. (A) Magnetic resonance image scans showed a well-enhanced mass. The mass invaded the vertebral body and extended into the pleura. (B) Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction (posterior view) with virtual laminectomy. (C) During the actual surgery, the tumor was exposed fully after performing the laminectomy as planned virtually. (D) 3D reconstruction (lateral view). (E) The diaphragm was hidden in order to allow exposure of tumor. (F) The 11th rib was hidden. It could be virtually confirmed that removing this rib only was enough to expose the tumor. (G) The tumor was hidden thereby confirming the surrounding normal organs.

DISCUSSION

Conventional preoperative planning has limits for accurate simulation of real anatomic structure when based on 2-dimensional (2D) radiographic images6). For many patients, advanced 3D imaging and use of medical CAD software can improve the accuracy of treatment planning and the precision of surgical execution6). These types of software could also be potentially applied to intraoperative guidance, real-time navigation and patient-customized implants6,7).

Virtual preoperative simulation using CAD software has been applied to various surgical areas. In particular, many authors have attempted to apply it to oral and maxillofacial surgery6–8). Their measure of success was determined not only by functional outcomes but cosmetic outcomes as well. Therefore, there has been a lot of interest in this technique among oral and maxillofacial surgeons. In spine surgery, previous attempts have also been made to apply virtual preoperative simulation1). Archavlis et al.1) reported some cases of successful transpedicular corpectomy planned by 3D reconstruction software. Lin et al.5) reported some invasive sacral schwannoma treated by customized osteotomy. In particular, cases of unfamiliar anatomical areas, such as the sacrum, complex neurovascular structure or high cervical area surgery, virtual preoperative simulation could provide more useful information than simple 2D images or limited CT-based 3D reconstruction. For years, it took special and long training sessions to learn how to use such software. Therefore, generally speaking, cooperation with biomedical engineers has been necessary2,3,5).

However, this cooperation was not always successful. Some intraoperative guidance or patient-customized implants made by biomechanical engineers were found to be unsuitable for surgery. The suspected reason for this was that the engineers were not well aware of the surgical procedure and therefore could not accurately reflect the intentions of the surgeon. Preoperative simulation has numerous variables that engineers with no experience in surgery could not understand. Additionally, preoperative simulation was not a process in which special products were produced. As a result, biomechanical engineers became less interested in preoperative simulation because it had no foreseeable commercial value. Also, cooperation with engineers was not possible for all cases of surgery. Therefore, simulations using medical CAD software should be implemented by the actual user.

Handling this software directly has another advantage. Recently, the performance of 3D printers has been getting better, and the price cheaper. This allows for individual use of the 3D printers. Using a 3D printer, a surgeon could directly create intraoperative guidance or other devices to help the surgery. To do this, however, the surgeon should be accustomed to making the design for an output of a 3D printer. In this process, the proper and direct handling of CAD software is essential.

As mentioned earlier, CAD software was difficult to use. To convert DICOM files to the standard 3D image format, another piece of software such as ScanIP (Synopsys Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) or Osirix (Pixmeo SARL, Geneva, Switzerland) should be used. However, with recent advancements in medical CAD software, this software has become more intuitive and simpler. In addition to Mimics we used, Dolphin Imaging (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, CA, USA) and Maxilim (Medicim, Mechelen, Belgium) were known as medical CAD software6). These programs did not take an exceedingly long time to perform preoperative simulations. In the context of our cases, the first case took about 60 minutes and the second case about 45 minutes. This time would potentially be shorter if the software was accustomed. Therefore, surgeons alone could make enough virtual preoperative simulation. Based on these technical notes, we conclude that virtual preoperative simulation using medical CAD software directly could be helpful in predicting the actual surgical procedures.

This technique had some limitations. At first, Mimics was paid software, and expensive for the personal user. Therefore, accessibility was limited except for those commercially licensed to design medical products. In our cases, we performed these processes using software purchased from a division of biomechanics as under an academic license. Also to be considered was the fact, fine CT scans were necessary. In conventional CT images, the quality of the 3D image is comparatively deteriorated and it may be difficult to analyze. Additional CT scans increase total cost and exposure of radiation to the patient.

CONCLUSION

Virtual preoperative simulation using medical CAD software has the potential to optimize various surgical options. Recently, the user interface of medical CAD software has been more intuitive and easy to use. Therefore, we conclude that it is advantageous for the surgeon to perform virtual preoperative simulation using medical CAD software directly when preparing for the excision of a spinal tumor.