Computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction of paranasal sinuses and its application.

Computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction techniques have been used for reconstruction of the paranasal sinuses and their related structures. Coronal polytomographic serial slices of Fuji Computed Radiogram (FCR) of every 5 mm or horizontal tomographical serial slices of CT of every 4 mm were obtained from preoperative cases of chronic sinusitis. Boundaries of the target structures were digitalized into a computer. The reconstructed image was displayed on a monitor screen and could be rotated or tilted in all directions. The reconstructed models showed the spatial shapes of each sinus and the relationship between sinuses and related structures of individual cases. This information is useful for surgeons to obtain preoperative understanding of the entire anatomy of the diseased sinuses and to introduce to residents detailed surgical technique of endonasal sinus surgery.