Resection of recurrent carcinomas in the pelvis - A new field of computer aided surgery

Abstract

Recurrent carcinomas may infiltrate the bony pelvis. If infiltrating the sacrum it is difficult to resect the tumor cause of the nerve roots that may be damaged during the operation. In this study three cases of recurrent carcinomas infiltrating the sacrum are presented. All were resected using a navigation system (Surgigate, Medivision, Oberdorf, Switzerland). With this system it was possible to detect the tumor margins on the monitor screen and to perform a resection outside the margins of the tumor using navigated chissels. Further developments such as CT and MRI fusion may help to improve such surgical procedures and may allow extend indications for computer aided surgery also in tumor cases.