TY - JOUR

T1 - Combined cone-beam CT imaging and microsurgical dissection of cadaver specimens to study cerebral venous anatomy

T2 - a technical note

AU - Krogager, Markus E.

AU - Dahl, Rasmus H.

AU - Poulsgaard, Lars

AU - Fugleholm, Kåre

AU - Sehested, Tom

AU - Mikkelsen, Ronni

AU - Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen

AU - Mathiesen, Tiit I.

AU - Benndorf, Goetz

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Purpose: Cadaver dissections and X-ray based 3D angiography are considered gold standards for studying neurovascular anatomy. We sought to develop a model that utilize the combination of both these techniques to improve current tools for anatomical research, teaching and preoperative surgical planning, particularly addressing the venous system of the brain. Materials and methods: Seven ethanol-fixed human cadaveric heads and one arm were injected with a latex-barium mixture into the internal jugular veins and the brachial artery. After the ethanol-based fixation, specimens were scanned by high-resolution cone-beam CT and images were post-processed on a 3D-workstation. Subsequent, microsurgical dissections were performed by an experienced neurosurgeon and venous anatomy was compared with relevant 3D venograms. Results: Latex-barium mixtures resulted in a homogenous cast with filling of the cerebral venous structures down to 150 μm in diameter. The ethanol-based preparation of the cadaveric brains allowed for near-realistic microsurgical maneuverability during dissection. The model improves assessment of the venous system for anatomical education and hands-on surgical training. Conclusion: To our knowledge we describe the first preparation method which combines near-realistic microsurgical dissection of human heads with high-resolution 3D imaging of the cerebral venous system in the same specimens.

AB - Purpose: Cadaver dissections and X-ray based 3D angiography are considered gold standards for studying neurovascular anatomy. We sought to develop a model that utilize the combination of both these techniques to improve current tools for anatomical research, teaching and preoperative surgical planning, particularly addressing the venous system of the brain. Materials and methods: Seven ethanol-fixed human cadaveric heads and one arm were injected with a latex-barium mixture into the internal jugular veins and the brachial artery. After the ethanol-based fixation, specimens were scanned by high-resolution cone-beam CT and images were post-processed on a 3D-workstation. Subsequent, microsurgical dissections were performed by an experienced neurosurgeon and venous anatomy was compared with relevant 3D venograms. Results: Latex-barium mixtures resulted in a homogenous cast with filling of the cerebral venous structures down to 150 μm in diameter. The ethanol-based preparation of the cadaveric brains allowed for near-realistic microsurgical maneuverability during dissection. The model improves assessment of the venous system for anatomical education and hands-on surgical training. Conclusion: To our knowledge we describe the first preparation method which combines near-realistic microsurgical dissection of human heads with high-resolution 3D imaging of the cerebral venous system in the same specimens.

KW - Barium

KW - Cadaver

KW - Latex

KW - Neuroanatomy

KW - Neuroradiology

KW - Veins

U2 - 10.1007/s00276-023-03195-8

DO - 10.1007/s00276-023-03195-8

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37542573

AN - SCOPUS:85166971511

VL - 45

SP - 1177

EP - 1184

JO - Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

JF - Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

SN - 0930-1038

ER -