Open Source Software for IGT
Objective
The 3D Slicer is a platform for state-of-art visualization, registration, segmentation, and quantification of medical data. Our objective in 3D Slicer Engineering here is adapt the 3D Slicer to Image Guided Therapy (IGT) and explore the added value and clinical impact only available by integrating state-of-art medical image in IGT and developing new IGT modules.
For more details, visit the Slicer-IGT page.
Recent Updates
Virtual endoscopic simulations using volume rendering (VR) have been proposed as a tool for training and understanding intraventricular anatomy. It is not known whether surface rendering (SR), an alternative to VR, can visualize intraventricular and subependymal structures better and thus making the virtual endoscope more useful for simulating the intraventicular endoscopy. We sought to develop SR virtual endsocopy and compared the visibility of anatomical structures in SR and VR using retrospective cases. Materials and Methods. Fourteen patients who underwent endoscopic intraventricular surgery of third ventricle enrolled the study. SR virtual endoscopy module was developed in open-source software 3D Slicer and virtual endoscopic scenes from the retrospective cases were created. VR virtual endoscopy of the same cases was prepared in commercial software. Three neurosurgeons scored the visibility of substructures in lateral and third ventricle, arteries, cranial nerves, and other lesions. Results. We found that VR and SR virtual endoscopy performed similarly in visualization of substructures in lateral and third ventricle (not significant statistically). However, the SR was statistically significantly better in visualizing subependymal arteries, cranial nerves, and other lesions (p<0.05 respectively). Conclusions. We concluded that SR virtual endoscopy is a promising tool to visualize critical anatomical structures in simulated endoscopic intraventricular surgery. The results lead us to propose a hybrid technique of volume and surface rendering to balance the strength of surface rendering alone in visualizing arteries, nerves and lesions, with fast volume rendering of third and lateral ventricles.
Publications
- Nakajima N, Wada J, Miki T, Haraoka J, Hata N. Surface Rendering-based Virtual Intraventricular Endoscopy: retrospective feasibility study and comparison to volume rendering-based approach. NeuroImage 2007; 37, Suppl 1, S89-S99.
- Gering DT, Nabavi A, Kikinis R, Hata N, O'Donnell LJ, Grimson WE, Jolesz FA, Black PM, Wells WM. An integrated visualization system for surgical planning and guidance using image fusion and an open MR. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2001;13(6):967-75
- Hata N, Jinzaki M, Kacher D, Cormak R, Gering D, Nabavi A, Silverman SG, D'Amico AV, Kikinis R, Jolesz FA, Tempany CM. MR imaging-guided prostate biopsy with surgical navigation software: device validation and feasibility. Radiology. 2001;220(1):263-8