3D DISPLAY OF MULTIPLE INTRACRANIAL STRUCTURES FOR TREATMENT PLANNING.

Image-processing workstations with high-resolution color monitors provide powerful new tools to assist physicians in treatment planning. The authors illustrate the utility of interactive three dimensional (3-D) imaging in three areas of neurosurgery. Based on 3-D images similar to what is seen during surgery, a surgeon can select the direction of surgical approach and the size of the cranial window. Selection and verification of probe placement is facilitated by 3-D images of the probe in relation to intracranial structures. Three-dimensional display is based on the colored-range method which provides estimates of changes in tumor volume.