Three-dimensional imaging for evaluation of head and neck tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the usefulness of three-dimensional imaging in addition to computed tomography in presurgical examination of patients with head and neck tumors.

DESIGN

Two-dimensional computed tomographic information from 31 patients with oral facial tumors was converted to three-dimensional images.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

A consecutive sample of 31 patients with oral facial tumors.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Improved treatment planning with the use of three-dimensional images used in conjunction with computed tomographic scans.

RESULTS

The three-dimensional images from patients with minimal tumor invasion of bone or with massive soft-tissue tumors allowed easy appreciation of tumor dimensions, an important factor in treatment planning. In patients with small soft-tissue tumors with no evidence of bone involvement on two-dimensional scans, massive tumors with complete bone destruction, and recurrent tumors, the three-dimensional representations added little to the obvious presentation of the two-dimensional scans.

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional imaging is a useful adjunct to diagnosis and treatment planning in patients with minimal tumor invasion of bone or with massive soft-tissue tumors.