Reconstruction of three-dimensional vascular models for lymphadenectomy before surgery

Introduction: A three-dimensional (3D) model of the pelvic vessels was reconstructed before surgery to aid in the understanding of the individual anatomy and help guide lymphadenectomy performance.Material and methods: Thirty patients with early-stage cervical cancer who were scheduled for lymphadenectomy at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2017 to June 2017 were included. Three-dimensional models of the pelvic vessels were obtained.Results: All 3D models of the 30 patients were reconstructed successfully and were consistent with the operative findings.The most common structural types posterior to the common iliac artery (CIA) and CIA bifurcation (CIAB) were non-vessel structures (23/30 patients) and the common iliac vein (CIV) (27/30); these were observed separately on the left pelvic vein. The confluence of common iliac vein (CCIV) (29/30) and CIV (20/30) were most commonly observed posterior to the CIA and CIAB; these were observed separately on the right pelvic vein. Venous abnormalities were identified in 15 patients. There were variants in venous confluence shown to be homolateral to the CIV (2/15) and contralateral to the CIV (2/15) and CCIV (4/15).Conclusions: Three-dimensional models of the pelvic vessels can provide information on individual anatomy features that can help guide lymphadenectomy performance.