Three‐dimensional fusion images combining CT gastrography and CT angiography for early gastric cancer: Pilot experiences of preoperative simulation prior to totally laparoscopic gastrectomy

Abstract

We herein report two cases of gastric cancer in which preoperative 3-D CT gastrography and CT angiography fusion images enabled totally laparoscopic gastrectomy. Case 1 involved a 60-year-old woman with a superficial depressed lesion on the greater curvature of the middle gastric body. Case 2 involved a 64-year-old woman with a superficial depressed lesion on the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. In both cases, 3-D fusion images were prepared from enhanced CT scans after the area near the lesions was clipped under preoperative gastroendoscopy. Based on the relative position between the clips and nearby vessels, a resection line was preoperatively determined in each case. Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and totally laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy were performed in cases 1 and 2, respectively, with safe surgical margins. Three-dimensional fusion images can help in preoperative simulation of totally laparoscopic gastrectomy.