3-DIMENSIONAL MODELS FOR HEAD AND NECK TUMOR TREATMENT PLANNING

The authors have evaluated two types of practical maxillofacial model systems useful to the head and neck surgeon: 1. plastic mandibular mod el generated by three-dimensional computerized tomography (CT) reconst ruction, and 2. dental impression model of the maxilla. The first mode l is expensive and technology intensive; the second is simple but limi ted. Both three-dimensional models offer several advantages:l. they pr ovide segmental mandibular relationships that are not known because of oncologic restrictions or previous surgery; 2. they allow preoperativ e reconstructive planning including prosthesis fabrication and visuali zation of tumor extent not obvious by two dimensional imaging; and 3. they provide a permanent record for future needs or reconstructions. T he disadvantages include cost, time, and possible inaccuracies seconda ry to image artifacts. We find both models to be of significant practi cal value in selected head and neck tumor patients.