Establishment of 3D venous-fusion models and their application in meningioma operations

Objective To explore the role of 3D venous-fusion models in the resection of meningiomas. Methods The study included 19 patients with meningiomas, admitted to our hospital from March 2015 to July 2015. The preoperative and postoperative contrast enhancement MR venography (CE-MRV) data were imported into the neuronavigator system. The establishment of 3D venous-fusion models was performed; reconstruction, cropping, fusion of the intracranial venae and tumors were performed. 3D venous-fusion models were used to evaluate the intracranial venous circulation, and the positions of venae and tumors were navigated in real-time. Results 3D venous-fusion models showed good results. The position relationship of tumors and their surrounding venous was perfectly assessed in operation. Nineteen patients underwent craniotomy using neuronavigator to locate venous position, and no postoperative venous complications occurred. The contrast of preoperative and postoperative 3D venous-fusion models prompted that the venous protection was in line with expectations. Conclusions The 3D venous-fusion models established by neuronavigator can accurately evaluate the relationship between cerebral venous and the tumors. These models help the operator making a better understanding of tumors and their peripheral venous imaging data from 3D perspective. It is benefit for the operator to make a more reasonable venous protect strategy. Key words: Meningioma; Neuronavigator; 3D venous-fusion model; Intracranial venous system; Venous protect strategy