Vascular Imaging in Surgical Simulation for Brain Tumor

Abstract

  In surgical planning for brain tumor, it is extremely important to identify the location and route of blood vessels. Thus, it is necessary to understand the special features and properties of individual imaging modalities because they provide valuable detailed information about blood vessels. In addition, it should be noted that the purpose of vascular imaging in this context is not to diagnose the pathology, but to acquire information required for surgical planning. Determining tumor margins, recognizing atypical vasculature, and identifying vessels traveling on or near the route of surgical approach are the primary focus in preoperative assessment for brain tumor surgery. Three-dimensional (3D) fusion imaging, which combines data from multiple imaging modalities, is useful for cases involving multiple blood vessels.

  In this article, we introduce clinical cases and review the vascular visualization capability, limitations, and features of medical imaging, and the utility of 3D fusion imaging in surgical planning for brain tumor surgery.