Ou Yunmou, Chen Qilong, Xu Dazheng, Gong Jin, Li Manting, Tang Miao, Wu Dengjun, De Vito Andrea, Hall Walter A, Ganau Mario, Kang Zhuang, Liang Chaofeng
Department of Neurosurgery, 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Radiology, 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2025 May 1;15(5):4164-4179. doi: 10.21037/qims-24-2301. Epub 2025 Mar 10.
The mastery of neuroanatomy is key to medical education, radiological interpretation of neurological signs and symptoms, and ultimately, surgical planning. With the development of imaging technology, the three-dimensional (3D) presentation of anatomical structures has become possible. The plastic models and anatomopathological specimens available for teaching anatomy in medical schools are often obsolete or poorly preserved, and in general, they provide limited margins for an enhanced learning experience, allowing for 3D visualization of the relationship with surrounding structures. To maximize the impact on anatomical teaching, we created a 3D digital model of human brain specimens using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and combined this with the powerful editing capabilities of the open-source 3D Slicer platform for image reconstruction and optimization.
Using cranial specimens donated to scientific research, we first connected the blood vessels and pretreated the specimens with a slow and continuous fluid injection. CT and MRI scans were performed after the injection of the appropriate amount of corresponding contrast agents into the specimens to obtain Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images. Subsequently, open-source 3D Slicer software was used to reconstruct the images in three dimensions and edit and optimize them to complete the digital reconstruction of specimens (digital twins).
By combining reconstruction modeling of digitized human brain specimens, the intracranial vasculature and the parenchymal anatomy can be largely restored, isolated, and reconstructed through the fusion of multimodal images on the 3D Slicer platform. Since vascular perfusion is better visualized under the CT modality, yet soft tissues such as brain parenchyma are better visualized under the MRI modality, our combined approach provides high-quality 3D model reconstruction.
We provide a road map to create a simple digital reconstruction model of human brain specimens. After injection of contrast agent into the specimen vessel, DICOM images are obtained after CT or MRI scanning to visualize vascular reconstruction. After multimodal image data are generated, 3D Slicer software can be used for 3D reconstruction and optimization of the acquired images, thus providing a digital 3D reconstruction model of the cranial brain specimen. This technology can provide observers with more vivid and intuitive 3D images and has a wide range of prospective applications, including the digital preservation of specimen information, medical anatomy teaching, and surgical training.
掌握神经解剖学是医学教育、神经系统体征和症状的影像学解读以及最终手术规划的关键。随着成像技术的发展，解剖结构的三维（3D）呈现已成为可能。医学院校用于解剖教学的塑料模型和解剖病理标本往往过时或保存不佳，总体而言，它们为增强学习体验提供的空间有限，无法实现与周围结构关系的3D可视化。为了最大限度地提高对解剖教学的影响，我们使用计算机断层扫描（CT）和磁共振成像（MRI）扫描创建了人脑标本的3D数字模型，并将其与开源3D Slicer平台强大的编辑功能相结合，用于图像重建和优化。
利用捐赠用于科研的颅骨标本，我们首先连接血管，并通过缓慢持续的液体注射对标本进行预处理。在向标本中注入适量相应造影剂后进行CT和MRI扫描，以获取医学数字成像和通信（DICOM）图像。随后，使用开源3D Slicer软件对图像进行三维重建，并对其进行编辑和优化，以完成标本的数字重建（数字孪生）。
通过结合数字化人脑标本的重建建模，颅内血管系统和实质解剖结构可以通过3D Slicer平台上多模态图像的融合在很大程度上得以恢复、分离和重建。由于在CT模式下血管灌注可视化效果更好，而在MRI模式下脑实质等软组织可视化效果更好，我们的联合方法提供了高质量的3D模型重建。
我们提供了创建人脑标本简单数字重建模型的路线图。在向标本血管中注入造影剂后，通过CT或MRI扫描获得DICOM图像以可视化血管重建。生成多模态图像数据后，可使用3D Slicer软件对获取的图像进行3D重建和优化，从而提供颅脑标本的数字3D重建模型。该技术可为观察者提供更生动直观的3D图像，具有广泛的前瞻性应用，包括标本信息的数字保存、医学解剖教学和手术训练。
