Utility of three-dimensional computed tomography in general thoracic surgery

It is important for general thoracic surgeons to understand the relationship between tumors and surrounding organs during surgery; however, many anatomical variations are possible in the thorax, which can complicate this goal. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is the latest technical breakthrough in CT imaging. MDCT permits rapid scanning of large areas of the body with multiple detectors, thereby allowing for simultaneous acquisition of an increased number of transaxial CT slices, which reduce motion artifacts. Three-dimensional (3D) rendering involves the creation of two-dimensional images that convey the 3D relationship of objects. The 3D reconstruction allows for enormous quantity of data to be utilized intuitively and effectively. The final images can reveal various lesions or organs of interest with high anatomical detail and accuracy to the general thoracic surgeon, which is helpful in performing safer surgeries. Surgeries for the following can benefit from this technology: lung lobectomy or segmentectomy, pulmonary sequestration, cardiovascular malformation, tracheobronchial tree, mediastinum, and chest wall. This article reviews the utility of 3D-MDCT imaging in the field of general thoracic surgery.