Sebastian Halm1, David Haberthür2, Elisabeth Eppler2, Valentin Djonov2, Andreas Arnold3,4. 1. Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland. sebastian.halm@ana.unibe.ch. 2. Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland. 3. University of Bern, Hochschulstrasse 6, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland. 4. Department of Ear Nose Throat, Spital Münsingen, Krankenhausweg 18/20, CH-3110, Münsingen, Switzerland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This pilot study explores whether a human Thiel-embalmed temporal bone is suitable for generating an accurate and complete data set with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and whether solid iodine-staining improves visualization and facilitates segmentation of middle ear structures. METHODS: A temporal bone was used to verify the accuracy of the imaging by first digitally measuring the stapes on the tomography images and then physically under the microscope after removal from the temporal bone. All measurements were compared with literature values. The contralateral temporal bone was used to evaluate segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) modeling after iodine staining and micro-CT scanning. RESULTS: The digital and physical stapes measurements differed by 0.01-0.17 mm or 1-19%, respectively, but correlated well with the literature values. Soft tissue structures were visible in the unstained scan. However, iodine staining increased the contrast-to-noise ratio by a factor of 3.7 on average. The 3D model depicts all ossicles and soft tissue structures in detail, including the chorda tympani, which was not visible in the unstained scan. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-CT imaging of a Thiel-embalmed temporal bone accurately represented the entire anatomy. Iodine staining considerably increased the contrast of soft tissues, simplified segmentation and enabled detailed 3D modeling of the middle ear.
INTRODUCTION: This pilot study explores whether a humanThiel-embalmed temporal bone is suitable for generating an accurate and complete data set with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and whether solid iodine-staining improves visualization and facilitates segmentation of middle ear structures. METHODS: A temporal bone was used to verify the accuracy of the imaging by first digitally measuring the stapes on the tomography images and then physically under the microscope after removal from the temporal bone. All measurements were compared with literature values. The contralateral temporal bone was used to evaluate segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) modeling after iodine staining and micro-CT scanning. RESULTS: The digital and physical stapes measurements differed by 0.01-0.17 mm or 1-19%, respectively, but correlated well with the literature values. Soft tissue structures were visible in the unstained scan. However, iodine staining increased the contrast-to-noise ratio by a factor of 3.7 on average. The 3D model depicts all ossicles and soft tissue structures in detail, including the chorda tympani, which was not visible in the unstained scan. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-CT imaging of a Thiel-embalmed temporal bone accurately represented the entire anatomy. Iodine staining considerably increased the contrast of soft tissues, simplified segmentation and enabled detailed 3D modeling of the middle ear.
Entities:
Keywords:
3D model; Human temporal bone; Iodine-staining; Micro-CT; Thiel embalming
Authors: Paul M Gignac; Nathan J Kley; Julia A Clarke; Matthew W Colbert; Ashley C Morhardt; Donald Cerio; Ian N Cost; Philip G Cox; Juan D Daza; Catherine M Early; M Scott Echols; R Mark Henkelman; A Nele Herdina; Casey M Holliday; Zhiheng Li; Kristin Mahlow; Samer Merchant; Johannes Müller; Courtney P Orsbon; Daniel J Paluh; Monte L Thies; Henry P Tsai; Lawrence M Witmer Journal: J Anat Date: 2016-03-11 Impact factor: 2.610