Application of 3D visualization and 3D printing in individualized precision surgery for Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the application of 3D visualization and 3D printing in individualized precision surgical treatment of Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed the data of 10 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing surgeries under the guidance of 3D visualization and 3D printing in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital from May 2016 to March 2019. Thin-section CT data of the patients were collected for 3D reconstruction and 3D printing, and the 3D printed models were used for observing the 3D relationship of tumor with the intrahepatic bile duct, hepatic artery, portal vein and hepatic vein system and for performing preoperative simulated surgery and surgical planning. The 3D printed models were subsequently used for real-time intraoperative navigation to guide surgeries in the operating room.@*RESULTS@#3D visualization models were successfully reconstructed for all the 10 patients and printed into 3D models. The 3D visualization types in Bismuth-Corlette classification included type Ⅲa (4 cases), type Ⅲb (4 cases), and type Ⅳ (2 cases); 4 patients showed portal vein variation, 3 had hepatic artery variation, and 2 had both portal vein and hepatic artery variations. Two patients were found to have trifurcation type of portal vein variation, one had "I-shaped" variation, and one showed the absence of the right anterior branch of the portal vein; 3 patients had hepatic artery variations with the left hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery (1 case) and the right hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery (2 cases). Four patients with type Ⅲb underwent left hepatectomy; 4 with type Ⅲa received right hepatectomy; 1 patient with of type Ⅳ received peripheral hepatic resection and another underwent left hepatectomy. The results of preoperative 3D reconstruction, 3D printed model and preoperative planning were consistent with the intraoperative findings. The operative time was 452±75.12 min with a mean intraoperative blood loss of 356±62.35 mL and a mean hospital stay of 15 ± 4.61 days in these cases. One patient had bile leakage and 3 patients had pleural effusion postoperatively, and they were discharged after drainage and medications. No liver failure or death occurred in these cases perioperatively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#3D visualization and 3D printing can facilitate accurate preoperative assessment, surgical planning and surgical procedure optimization for Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma to improve surgical safety and reduce surgical risks especially in cases of intrahepatic vascular variations.

Three-dimensional visualization evaluation and VR study of giant liver cancer with blood vessels as the axis / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical application value of three-dimensional visualization of blood vessels as the axis and virtual reality technology in giant liver cancer.Methods Thin-layer CT image data of 13 patients who were diagnosed as giant primary liver cancer were collected for three-dimensional reconstruction,and then transformed into VR model.The anatomical relationship between the tumor and its surrounding important structures was analyzed.The preoperative evaluation,classification and surgical planning based on blood vessels as the axis were carried out to guide intraoperative navigation.The consistency was verified by the intraoperative rapid pathological examination.Results 13 patients successfully achieved 3D reconstruction and VR model transformation.According to the 3D visualization classification of blood vessels as the axis.There were three cases of type Ⅰ a grade 1,two cases of type Ⅰa grade 2;one case of type Ⅱ a grade 2;one case of type Ⅱ b grade 3;two cases of type Ⅱ c grade 3;four cases of type Ⅱ a grade 3.Conclusions Three-dimensional visualization and VR technology can provide comprehensive information on the anatomical structure of liver cancer lesions and blood vessels,which is of great value in the application of giant liver cancer surgery.

Three-dimensional visual assessment and VR study of hilar cholangiocarcinoma with portal vein as the axis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To explore the application value of three-dimensional visual (3DV) assessment and virtual reality (VR) study of type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma with portal vein as the axis.Methods The CT image data of 10 patients who were diagnosed as Bismuth type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma by B-ultrasound and CT in Zhujiang Hospital,Southern Medical University were imported into 3D visualization system (3DVS) for 3D image reconstruction,and the portal vein was used as the axis for 3DV analysis and evaluation.The 3D data were then imported into the VR development engine to perform VR research,so as to help the operation planning.Both of the image data were taken into the operation room for intraoperative navigation.Results 10 patients completed 3D visualization reconstruction and VR model transformation.According to the 3D visualization of hepatic hilar hepatocarcinoma,there were 1 case of type Ⅱ,2 cases of type Ⅲa,5 cases of type Ⅲb,1 case of type Ⅳa and 1 case of type Ⅳb.The portal vein was classified according to Cheng type:6 cases of type Ⅰ,3 cases of type Ⅱ,and 1 case of type Ⅲ.The hepatic artery was classified according to Michels type:5 cases of type Ⅰ,1 case of type Ⅱ,3 cases of type Ⅲ,and 1 case of type Ⅸ.The 3DV assessment and VR study were almost consistent with the intraoperative findings.No liver failure or death occurred during the perioperative period.Conclusion The 3DV assessment and VR study with the portal vein as the axis have potential application for the surgical treatment of type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Three-dimensional visualization combined with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in diagnosis and treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the value of three-dimensional visualization technology (3DVT) combined with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 154 patients with HCC admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University between January, 2016 and November, 2018. In 57 of the patients (3DVT group), preoperative CT and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were performed and 3D visualization and surgical planning was carried out before the operation; intraoperative ICG florescence imaging was performed for real-time detection of the tumor location and demarcation, intrahepatic satellite lesions and metastases. According to the intraoperative fluorescent signals and 3D visualization-based surgical planning, the final surgical plan was determined. In the other 97 patients (control group), conventional surgical assessment and surgical resection of the tumor was carried out. The preoperative imaging findings, intraoperative tumor detection, postoperative laboratory results, pathological reports, and follow-up data of the patients were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#In 3DVT group, 63 and 70 lesions were detected by preoperative CT and MRI, respectively; compared with CT examination, intraoperative ICG florescence imaging revealed additional 17 lesions, among which 10 were pathologically confirmed as HCC and 7 as cirrhosis nodules. The median volume of bleeding was 300 mL in 3DVT group, significantly less than that in the control group (400 mL; Z=2.291, =0.022). In both groups, serious complications or perioperative death occurred in none of the patients. The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lowed in 3DVT group than in the control group [21% (12/57) 48.4% (47/97); =11.406, =0.001]. The overall disease-free survival rate at 2 years after the operation was significantly higher in 3DVT group than in the control group (74.9% 28.9%, =0.022).@*CONCLUSIONS@#3DVT combined with ICG fluorescence imaging allows precise preoperative diagnosis, surgical planning and implementation, intraoperative detection of small liver cancers and precise navigation for HCC treatment, thereby helping to reduce postoperative complications and improve the disease-free survival rate of the patients.

Three-dimensional visual assessment and virtual reality study of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma on the axis of blood vessels / 中华外科杂志

Objective@#To explore a novel method for preoperative precision assessment of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) with blood vessel as axis based on three-dimensional(3D) visualization and virtual reality(VR) technology and its application values.@*Methods@#High-quality thin-layer enhanced CT data were collected from 20 patients with centrally located HCC who treated at First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from March 2017 to August 2018 diagnosed by preoperative examination. There were 18 males and 2 females, aged 28 to 69 years, all of Child-Pugh grade A. First of all, 3D reconstruction was performed by a 3D visualization software; then, the reconstructed 3D image was imported into VR development engine for VR research; afterwards, the analysis and evaluation system with blood vessel as axis was established based on 3D visualization classification of centrally located HCC; therefore, the relationship of the tumor to its major peripheral blood vessels was accurately judged and the surgical planning was formulated. Two images were brought into the operating room for navigation in surgery. The assessments results of preoperative data (CT and (or) MRI) and three-dimensional visualization of blood vessels in VR environment were compared; the values of the preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, serum albumin and bilirubin were recorded and compared. Chi-square test, t-test and non-parametric test were used for the analysis of counting data, continuous measurement data and non-normal distribution measurement data, respectively.@*Results@#3D visualization modeling was completed in all of the 20 patients with centrally located HCC. According to the results of 3D visualization classification of centrally located HCC, there were 3 cases of type Ⅰ,1 case of type Ⅱ,4 cases of type Ⅲ,7 cases of type Ⅳ and 5 cases of type Ⅴ; according to the assessment and classification based on blood vessel as the axis, there were 6 cases of type Ⅰa,2 cases of type Ⅰb,2 cases of type Ⅱa,9 cases of type Ⅱb and 1 case of type Ⅱc. All patients underwent successful resection of tumor under the guidance of 3D visualization and VR technology. There were 15 cases whose assessment results based on preoperative CT/MRI were consistent with intraoperative findings, with a coincidence rate of 75.0%(15/20); while in VR environment, the assessment results of 3D visualization with blood vessel as axis were all consistent with the intraoperative findings, with coincidence rate of 100%(20/20). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (χ2=5.714, P=0.017). There was no red blood cell transfusion in all patients during the operation. The preoperative hemoglobin was (128.8±14.9)g/L, and it was (119.8±12.5)g/L on postoperative day 1. There was no significant difference between these two sets of data (t=2.07, P=0.054). No death during the perioperative period and no complications such as hepatic failure, hemorrhage and biliary fistula after operation occurred.@*Conclusion@#Preoperative evaluation based on 3D visualization and VR technology with blood vessel as the axis has significant clinical value for preoperative planning and surgical navigation of centrally located HCC.

Application of augmented-reality surgical navigation technology combined with ICG molecular fluorescence imaging in laparoscopic hepatectomy / 中华外科杂志

Objective@#To study the application value of augmented-reality (AR) surgical navigation technology combined with indocyanine green (ICG) molecular fluorescence imaging in three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic hepatectomy.@*Methods@#The clinical data of forty-eight patients who had undergone 3D laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma at First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2018 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into two groups: the group of 3D laparoscopic hepatectomy navigated by augment reality technology combined with ICG molecular fluorescence imaging (Group A) , and group of conventional 3D laparoscopic hepatectomy (Group B) . Patients in Group A (n=23) underwent 3D laparoscopic hepatectomy using augmented-reality technology combined with ICG molecular fluorescence imaging. In this group, the self-developed three-dimensional laparoscopic augmented-reality surgical navigation system (No. 2018SR840555) was operated to project the preoperative three-dimensional model to the surgical field, and the use of this system in combination with ICG molecular fluorescence imaging navigated laparoscopic hepatectomy. No surgical navigation technology was applied in Group B (n=25) . All patients signed the informed consent, which were in accordance with the requirements of medical ethics (Ethics No.: 2018-GDYK-003) . The preoperative data, surgical indicators and postoperative complications between the two groups were compared and analyzed.@*Results@#The median amount of intraoperative blood loss of Group A was 250 (200) ml (M (QR) ) , which was significantly lower than that of Group B (300 (150) ml) (Z=-2.307, P=0.021) .The transfusion rate of Group A was 13.0% (3/23) , which was significantly lower than that of Group B (40.0%, 10/25) (χ2=4.408, P=0.036) .The median postoperative hospitalization time of Group A was 8 (2) d, which was significantly shorter than that of Group B (11 (6.5) d) (Z=-2.694, P=0.007) . There were no serious complications and perioperative death in both groups.The incidence of postoperative complications in Group A was 17.4% (4/23) , which was not significantly different from that in group B (28%, 7/25) (χ2=0.763, P=0.382) .@*Conclusion@#Augmented-reality surgical navigation technology combined with ICG molecular fluorescence imaging has better effect in 3D laparoscopic hepatectomy.