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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(4); 1642-1649; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15813

A pilot study of optical neuronavigation-guided brain biopsy in the horse using anatomic landmarks and fiducial arrays for patient registration.

Abstract: Optical neuronavigation-guided intracranial surgery has become increasingly common in veterinary medicine, but its use has not yet been described in horses. Objective: To determine the feasibility of optical neuronavigation-guided intracranial biopsy procedures in the horse, compare the use of the standard fiducial array and anatomic landmarks for patient registration, and evaluate surgeon experience. Methods: Six equine cadaver heads. Methods: Computed tomography images of each specimen were acquired, with the fiducial array rigidly secured to the frontal bone. Six targets were selected in each specimen. Patient registration was performed separately for 3 targets using the fiducial array, and for 3 targets using anatomic landmarks. In lieu of biopsy, 1 mm diameter wire seeds were placed at each target. Postoperative images were coregistered with the planning scan to calculate Euclidian distance from the tip of the seed to the target. Results: No statistical difference between registration techniques was identified. The impact of surgeon experience was examined for each technique using a Mann-Whitney U test. The experienced surgeon was significantly closer to the intended target (median = 2.52 mm) than were the novice surgeons (median = 6.55 mm) using the fiducial array (P = .001). Although not statistically significant (P = .31), for the experienced surgeon the median distance to target was similar when registering with the fiducial array (2.47 mm) and anatomic landmarks (2.58 mm). Conclusions: Registration using both fiducial arrays and anatomic landmarks for brain biopsy using optical neuronavigation in horses is feasible.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-05-29 PubMed ID: 32469442PubMed Central: PMC7379038DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15813Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article presents a pilot study that aims to determine the feasibility of using optical neuronavigation-guided intracranial biopsy procedures in horses. It also explores and compares the use of fiducial arrays and anatomical landmarks for patient registration. The study also investigates the impact of surgeon experience on its efficiency.

Concepts and Methods

The research involved six equine (horse) cadaver heads as models for the study, due to the unavailability of live subjects. Key concepts in the method include:

  • Computed Tomography (CT): CT images of each specimen were acquired before the procedure. This provided the necessary anatomical information to conduct the neuronavigation.
  • Fiducial Array: A fiducial array is a set of specific points used in image analysis to determine spatial transformation. The fiducial array was secured to the frontal bone of the specimen heads.
  • Anatomic Landmarks: Anatomic landmarks were also used for patient registration, marking another method for aligning the physical specimen with its image representation.
  • Biopsy Surrogate: Instead of performing an actual biopsy, the researchers placed wire seeds with a diameter of 1mm at each target. This served as a proxy for examining the precision of the biopsy procedure.

Comparison of Registration Techniques and Surgeon Experience

The accuracy of placing the wire seeds was analyzed by calculating the Euclidean distance from the tip of the seed to the target, revealing the effectiveness of each registration technique. Key findings include:

  • Neither fiducial array nor anatomic landmarks registration showed a notable statistical difference, suggesting both are valid methods for this type of operation.
  • The impact of surgeon experience was examined, showing that an experienced surgeon was significantly closer to the intended target than novice surgeons. This underscores the role of professional expertise in medical surgery procedures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study found that optical neuronavigation-guided intracranial biopsy procedures in horses are feasible, and both fiducial arrays and anatomic landmarks can be used for patient registration. The efficiency of the procedure is significantly affected by the surgeon’s experience.

Cite This Article

APA
Santistevan L, Easley J, Ruple A, Monck S, Randall E, Wininger F, Packer RA. (2020). A pilot study of optical neuronavigation-guided brain biopsy in the horse using anatomic landmarks and fiducial arrays for patient registration. J Vet Intern Med, 34(4), 1642-1649. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15813

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 4
Pages: 1642-1649

Researcher Affiliations

Santistevan, Lawrence
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Easley, Jeremiah
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Ruple, Audrey
  • Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Monck, Sam
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Randall, Elissa
  • Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Wininger, Fred
  • Charlotte Animal Referral and Emergency, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Packer, Rebecca A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Anatomic Landmarks
  • Animals
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Biopsy / veterinary
  • Brain / surgery
  • Horses / surgery
  • Neuronavigation / instrumentation
  • Neuronavigation / methods
  • Neuronavigation / veterinary
  • Pilot Projects

Grant Funding

  • Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, Colorado State University
  • Young Investigator Grant Program, Center for Companion Animal Studies, Colorado State University

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Tsuka T, Yamahita M, Okamoto Y, Miyazaki S, Ishii J, Yoshimitsu K, Muragaki Y. Utility of a freehand frameless navigation system in computed tomography-assisted ventral bulla osteotomy for otitis media in calves. PLoS One 2026;21(2):e0342569.
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  2. Klopfenstein Bregger MD, de Preux M, Brünisholz HP, Van der Vekens E, Schweizer D, Koch C. Cheek tooth repulsion aided by computer-assisted surgery in 16 equids. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1571539.
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  4. Gutmann S, Heiderhoff M, Möbius R, Siegel T, Flegel T. Application accuracy of a frameless optical neuronavigation system as a guide for craniotomies in dogs. Acta Vet Scand 2023 Dec 14;65(1):54.
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