SURGICAL PLANNING USING 3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING AND COMPUTER MODELING

The acquisition, processing, and use of three-dimensional (3D) imaging provide new insights into normal and abnormal craniofacial anatomy. I n this article, characteristics of CT and MRI scanning are reviewed al ong with the methods used to delineate tissues and produce 3D patient displays, including contouring, shaded surface, and volumetric process ing. The use of 3D model fabrication for surgical planning is discusse d with examples of the production of a custom CT-based auricle model a nd the use of rapid prototyping technology to create models for custom alloplastic implant surgery. The review concludes with some speculati on about the future of 3D medical imaging as it will influence surgica l training and practice over the coming decades.