• Zhenchian Chen, Nicholas Bernards, Alexander Gregor, Claire Vannelli, Shinsuke Kitazawa, Marc de Perrot, and Kazuhiro Yasufuku.
• Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Thoracic Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
• J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 2023 Mar 1; 165 (3): 842852.e5842-852.e5.

ObjectivePancoast tumor resection planning requires precise interpretation of 2-dimensional images. We hypothesized that patient-specific 3-dimensional reconstructions, providing intuitive views of anatomy, would enable superior anatomic assessment.MethodsCross-sectional images from 9 patients with representative Pancoast tumors, selected from an institutional database, were randomly assigned to presentation as 2-dimensional images, 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction, or 3-dimensional physical reconstruction. Thoracic surgeons (n = 15) completed questionnaires on the tumor extent and a zone-based algorithmic surgical approach for each patient. Responses were compared with surgical pathology, documented surgical approach, and the optimal "zone-specific" approach. A 5-point Likert scale assessed participants' opinions regarding data presentation and potential benefits of patient-specific 3-dimensional models.ResultsIdentification of tumor invasion of segmented neurovascular structures was more accurate with 3-dimensional physical reconstruction (2-dimensional 65.56%, 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction 58.52%, 3-dimensional physical reconstruction 87.50%, P < .001); there was no difference for unsegmented structures. Classification of assessed zonal invasion was better with 3-dimensional physical reconstruction (2-dimensional 67.41%, 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction 77.04%, 3-dimensional physical reconstruction 86.67%; P = .001). However, selected surgical approaches were often discordant from documented (2-dimensional 23.81%, 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction 42.86%, 3-dimensional physical reconstruction 45.24%, P = .084) and "zone-specific" approaches (2-dimensional 33.33%, 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction 42.86%, 3-dimensional physical reconstruction 45.24%, P = .501). All surgeons agreed that 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction and 3-dimensional physical reconstruction benefit surgical planning. Most surgeons (14/15) agreed that 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction and 3-dimensional physical reconstruction would facilitate patient and interdisciplinary communication. Finally, most surgeons (14/15) agreed that 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction and 3-dimensional physical reconstruction's benefits outweighed potential delays in care for model construction.ConclusionsAlthough a consistent effect on surgical strategy was not identified, patient-specific 3-dimensional Pancoast tumor models provided accurate and user-friendly overviews of critical thoracic structures with perceived benefits for surgeons' clinical practices.Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.

14 keywords...

hide…