C. Capello

Computer-enhanced preoperative planning of soft tissue sarcoma surgery

When dealing with soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities and aiming to perform limb-sparing surgery, it is mandatory to define the extent of the tumor and the connections with the surrounding tissues and anatomic structures. We started with MR images of 256/spl times/256 pixels (each pixel represented by 12 bits), at the same slice location in a given patient. A new single image representation of all three images is then generated by color compositing these into a 24-bit RGB framebuffer on a HP 900/735 workstation. PD was mapped to green, T1 to blue and T2 to red. This environment allows the creation of a spatial manipulation system in a 3D object space as well as the interactive navigation of the operator through the same space. The surgeon can thus easily discriminate tissues by their color characteristics. The color statistics of the image can be used to interactively segment out different tissues for removal and/or closer inspection. All this, in our experience, has greatly facilitated the simulation of soft-tissue sarcoma resections In our opinion, this computer-based technique, aiming to enhance the preoperative-plannings accuracy in the surgical management of soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremities, aids in performing a radical conservative eradication of the malignancy.

Unilateral breast reconstruction: a new computer-aided preoperative planner

To achieve a good result with tissue expansion for unilateral breast reconstruction, it is of the outmost importance to select an expander, the size of which will allow to obtain a semicircumference and the projection of the contralateral breast objective. This is quantitative data useful to aid in proper expander selection when performing tissue expansion for unilateral breast reconstruction.

A computer-based preoperative planner for the surgical treatment of unilateral breast hypoplasia

To achieve a good result in the surgical treatment of unilateral breast hypoplasia, it is of the utmost importance to obtain a reasonable symmetry with the contralateral, uninvolved breast. We describe a C++ computer program able to provide (supplied the semicircumference and the projection of the breasts) objective, quantitative data useful to aid in the preoperative planning for the surgical treatment of unilateral breast hypoplasia.

Tissue expansion: a computer-aided preoperative planner

The aim of this paper is to introduce a computer program developed to provide objective, quantitative data useful to ensure proper implant selection when having to use a tissue expander for soft-tissue reconstructions. The only data to be supplied are the length and the width of the defect to be reconstructed, or the projection and the semicircumference of the involved (or contralateral) breast in case of breast reconstruction. In our opinion, although its use is not aimed at replacing clinical judgment based on experience and careful observation, this program may be considered a simple and useful adjunct for the inexperienced surgeon (or the occasional operator) planning to use a soft-tissue expander.