Purpose: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of taggin
g thigh lighting) surgical sites using volumetric CT virtual reality of the
paranasal sinuses in the planning for endoscopic sinus surgery.
Method: Twenty-five patients with significant paranasal sinus disease had a
planned surgical site marked on 2D coronal images. This planned surgical s
ite was then tagged and included on CT volumetric virtual reality imaging.
Each case was evaluated as to the ability of the CT virtual reality to demo
nstrate the planned surgical site and its orientation with respect to adjac
ent superficial anatomy.
Results: For all 25 planned surgeries, the virtual images showed the entire
surgical site marked on the 2D coronal images. In all 25 cases, the orient
ation of the planned surgical site to adjacent normal anatomy was well demo
nstrated. For surgery into the maxillary sinuses, tagging and electronic re
moval of the middle turbinates and uncinate processes mimicked the actual s
urgery and allowed complete visualization of the infundibulum and the plann
ed surgical site.
Conclusion: Planned endoscopic paranasal sinus surgical sites can be easily
and reliably highlighted using CT virtual reality techniques with respect
to the patient's normal endoscopic anatomy.