COMPUTER-ASSISTED IMAGE-GUIDED SURGERY IN PEDIATRIC SKULL-BASE PROCEDURES

Skull-base surgery is characterized by the variety of important neural and vascular structures within a narrow operating field. Although pre operative imaging by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance i maging (MRI) and the use of microsurgical techniques have improved int raoperative orientation, a large number of complications still are cau sed by localization problems. Especially in pediatric skull-base surge ry, maximum localization accuracy during surgery is required, The auth ors developed a localizing system based on tomographic imaging (such a s CT or MRI) to achieve safer surgery by providing highly accurate loc ation information, The preliminary successful experience in the use of the Aachen computer-assisted surgery device for pediatric skull-base surgery (14 cases) is presented. Indications include juvenile angiofib roma of the nasopharynx, infectious and tumorous diseases of the paran asal sinuses, orbital tumors, foreign bodies, and intracranial abscess formation. (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company