Computer-assisted navigated resection of brain tumours

Abstract

Summary. Computer-assisted intraoperative image information from CT/MR image data, in short computer-assisted surgery (CAS), is increasingly used in various fields of surgery to optimally analyse the intraoperative site. In neurosurgery, the employment of the new frameless navigation system has today with some indications already replaced frame-guided stereotactic methods of localization. With the MKM system (Zeiss, Germany), the operating microscope itself has been converted into a navigation device through robot-control and optical data superimposition. This paper reports the results we obtained in using this system for the localization of intracranial tumours in 29 patients. It is our experience that this neuronavigation system improves approach planning and facilitates decisions as to resection borders with low and high grade gliomas as well as metastases.

Key Words:

• neuronavigation
• microsurgery
• computer-assisted surgery
• brain tumours