Use of the CT Navigation In the Rhinology and Head Surgery

Background:  CT navigation is an assistant tool for identification and location of anatomical structures during surgery based on computer processed preoperative CT images followed by registration. CT navigation facilitates exact localization of particular anatomical points and at the same time also allows determination of the exact position of a respective instrument in 3D pictures and in 3 CT planes.

Methods:  The optical CT navigation system Treon Plus (Medtronic-Xomed) is successfully being used at the ENT Department of the 3^rd Medical Faculty Charles University and Central Military Clinic, Prague, Czech Republic. We studied the advantages of CT navigation use on 141 patients (257 procedures) operated from January, 1, 2007 till December, 31, 2009. The CT navigation was used for primary sinus endoscopic surgery (81 procedures), revision sinus endoscopic surgery (46), surgical treatment of injuries (7) and in tumors (7). We examined the use of optical CT navigation with MRI fusion for delimitation of extensive tumor of the tongue.

Results: In operated group of patients we observed no major per- nor postoperative complications.

Conclusions:  The primary benefit of the presented CT navigation is the feasibility of higher radicality, accuracy, together with delicacy towards the surrounding tissues. This work was supported by grant 0801 8 8030 from the Ministry of Defence, Czech Republic.