Frameless image guidance improves accuracy in three-dimensional interstitial brachytherapy needle placement

Target registration and target positioning errors in computer‐assisted neurosurgery: proposal for a standardized reporting of error assessment

“…Phantoms have been classified into non-anthropomorphic and anthropomorphic in order to acknowledge the different qualities of phantoms. Non-anthropomorphic phantoms are cheap and easily fabricated, but their major drawback is the lack of simulation of the correct anatomy (20,49,(50)(51)(52)54,55). Although the target volume may be similar to the real anatomical target volume, a substantial difference is seen in the registration process.…”

“…biopsy needle) within the postoperative CT or MR. In phantom studies, form-constant gel or polystyrene can fix all targeting tools at the phantom (17,20,49). In patient studies, the puncture device has to left in place and thus usually requires an intra-operative imaging suite.…”

Feasibility report for retreatment of locally recurrent head-and-neck cancers by combined brachy-chemotherapy using frameless image-guided 3D interstitial brachytherapy

“…Brachytherapy needle implantation was virtually planned taking into account the surrounding risk structures in the surgical implantation (i.e., vessels, nerves) and in the irradiation (i.e., mandibular bone). Needles were implanted using an adapted frameless navigation system (26). The mean number of implanted needles per implant was 9.3 (range, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

“…Thus, the camera system can track the current instrument, the patient position, and their respective movements in 3D-space. The SPOCS navigation system was adapted for use in interstitial brachytherapy (26). Therefore a special needle holder with mounted IREDs for 3D navigation-based needle implantation was developed ( Fig.…”

“…The adaptation of a frameless navigation system to interstitial brachytherapy procedures and the development of a 3D-navigable needle holder enable virtual planning of brachytherapy needle implantation and provide intraoperative navigational assistance for the management of virtually planned interventions. This resulted in improved accuracy in 3D interstitial needle implantation (26).…”