Noninvasive vascular images for face transplant surgical planning.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Face transplantation replaces substantial defects with anatomically identical donor tissues; preoperative vascular assessment relies on noninvasive imaging to separate and characterize the external carotid vessels and branches. The objective is to describe and illustrate vascular considerations for face transplantation candidates.

Methods

Novel noninvasive imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging over 3 spatial dimensions plus time was developed and tested in 4 face transplant candidates. Precontrast images assessed bones and underlying metal. Contrast media was used to delineate and separate arteries from veins. For computed tomography, acquisition over multiple time points enabled the computation of tissue perfusion metrics. Time-resolved

SUBMITTER: Soga S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3240129 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature