Three-dimensional neuroanatomic images in CT-guided stereotaxic neurosurgery.

A technique is described for three-dimensional reconstruction of human diencephalic structures based on information contained in a widely used stereotaxic brain atlas. Various methods of graphically representing the obtained diencephalic volumes are discussed and examples are given. The anatomic information contained in the computerized atlas can be implemented with computed tomography performed under stereotaxic conditions. Volume data provided by the tomograms are used for three-dimensional "stretching" of the volumes presented in the atlas. Improved accuracy in identifying "invisible" diencephalic targets in functional stereotaxic neurosurgery is expected to result from this new technique.