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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
Three-dimensional virtual planning for nodule resection in solid organs: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Matheus Zanon1, Stephan Altmayer2, Guilherme Watte3
1Graduate Program in Pathology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre - R, Sarmento Leite, 245, Porto Alegre, 90050170, Brazil; Medical Imaging Research Lab, LABIMED, Department of Radiology, Pavilhão Pereira Filho Hospital, Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre - Av, Independência, 75, Porto Alegre, 90020160, Brazil.
Objectives:
To systematically review the effects of 3D-imaging virtual planning for nodule resection in the following solid organs: lung, liver, and kidney.
Methods:
MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched through September 31, 2020 to include randomized and non-randomized controlled studies that compared outcomes of surgical resection of lung, liver, or kidney nodule resection with and without 3D virtual planning with computed tomography. From each article, the mean operation time (OT), mean estimated blood loss (EBL), mean postoperative hospital stay (POHS), and the number of postoperative events (POE) were extracted. The effect size (ES) of 3D virtual planning vs. non-3D planning was extracted from each study to calculate the pooled measurements for continuous variables (OT, EBL, POHS). Data were pooled using a random-effects model.
Results:
The literature search yielded 2397 studies and 10 met the inclusion criteria with a total of 897 patients. There was a significant difference in OT between groups with a moderate ES favoring the 3D group (ES,-0.56; 95%CI: 0.91,-0.29; I2 = 83.1%; p < .001). Regarding EBL, there was a significant difference between 3D and non-3D with a small ES favoring IGS (ES,-0.18; 95%CI: 0.33,-0.02; I2 = 22.5%; p = .0236). There was no difference between the 3D and non-3D groups for both POHS (POHS ES,-0.15; 95%CI: 0.39,0.10; I2 = 37.0%; p = .174) and POE (POE odds ratio (OR),0.80; 95%CI:0.54,1.19; I2 = 0.0%; p = .0.973).
Conclusions:
3D-imaging planning for surgical resection of lung, kidney, and liver nodules could reduce OT and EBL with no effects on immediate POHS and POE. Improvements in these perioperative variables could improve medium and long-term postoperative clinical outcomes.

