A Predictable Approach of a Rare and Frequently Misdiagnosed Entity: Laryngeal Nerve Schwannoma

(1) Background: Schwannoma, a mesenchymal neoplasm derived from Schwann cells that line peripheral nerve sheaths, has a challenging diagnosis, due to the non-specific medical history and clinical examination. Nowadays, virtual reality (VR) is increasingly more used for enhancing diagnosis and for preoperative planning of surgical procedures. With VR, the surgeon can interact, before any surgery, with a virtual environment that is completely generated by a computer, offering them a real experience inside a virtual 3D model. (2) Methods and Results: The aim of the present paper was to present a case of surgically removal of a schwannoma, which originated from the fibers of the superior laryngeal nerve, in a predictable and minimally invasive fashion, upon using VR for diagnosis and surgical procedure planning. (3) Conclusions: The current clinical report attracted the attention of including schwannoma in the possible differential diagnosis of a swelling in the anterior cervical region, mainly when a nonspecific radiological appearance is noticed, even with the use of multiple imaging modalities. Virtual reality can increase the predictability and success rate of the surgical procedure, being in the meantime a good tool for communication with the patient.

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Ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block assists in anesthesia for bronchoscopic surgical procedure

Medicine ◽

10.1097/md.0000000000020916 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 (27) ◽

pp. e20916

Author(s):

Yu-Chen Liao ◽

Wei-Ciao Wu ◽

Ming-Hui Hsieh ◽

Chuen-Chau Chang ◽

Hsiao-Chien Tsai

Keyword(s):

Nerve Block ◽

Surgical Procedure ◽

Superior Laryngeal Nerve ◽

Laryngeal Nerve ◽

Ultrasound Guided

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of An in vivo model of external superior laryngeal nerve paralysis: laryngoscopic findings.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.11982957.13108055 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Michelle R Ciucci ◽

Matthew Hoffman

Keyword(s):

Superior Laryngeal Nerve ◽

Laryngeal Nerve ◽

In Vivo Model ◽

Nerve Paralysis ◽

Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Determination of the function of the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve after thyroidectomy.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.4788961.4693059 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Gerhard Friedrich ◽

Georg Hammer

Keyword(s):

Superior Laryngeal Nerve ◽

Laryngeal Nerve ◽

Internal Branch

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Is the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve dispensable in thyroid surgery?

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725907694.793513914 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Rosemarie Heyn

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Surgery ◽

Superior Laryngeal Nerve ◽

Laryngeal Nerve ◽

External Branch

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Immersive 3D virtual reality imaging in planning minimally invasive and complex adult cardiac surgery

European Heart Journal - Digital Health ◽

10.1093/ehjdh/ztaa011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 62-70

Author(s):

Amir H Sadeghi ◽

Wouter Bakhuis ◽

Frank Van Schaagen ◽

Frans B S Oei ◽

Jos A Bekkers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Cardiac Surgery ◽

Heart Surgery ◽

Preoperative Planning ◽

Operating Time ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Cardiothoracic Surgery ◽

Planning Tool ◽

Computed Tomography Images

Abstract Aims Increased complexity in cardiac surgery over the last decades necessitates more precise preoperative planning to minimize operating time, to limit the risk of complications during surgery and to aim for the best possible patient outcome. Novel, more realistic, and more immersive techniques, such as three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) could potentially contribute to the preoperative planning phase. This study shows our initial experience on the implementation of immersive VR technology as a complementary research-based imaging tool for preoperative planning in cardiothoracic surgery. In addition, essentials to set up and implement a VR platform are described. Methods Six patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between March 2020 and August 2020, were included, based on request by the surgeon and availability of computed tomography images. After 3D VR rendering and 3D segmentation of specific structures, the reconstruction was analysed via a head mount display. All participating surgeons (n = 5) filled out a questionnaire to evaluate the use of VR as preoperative planning tool for surgery. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that immersive 3D VR visualization of anatomy might be beneficial as a supplementary preoperative planning tool for cardiothoracic surgery, and further research on this topic may be considered to implement this innovative tool in daily clinical practice. Lay summary Over the past decades, surgery on the heart and vessels is becoming more and more complex, necessitating more precise and accurate preoperative planning. Nowadays, operative planning is feasible on flat, two-dimensional computer screens, however, requiring a lot of spatial and three-dimensional (3D) thinking of the surgeon. Since immersive 3D virtual reality (VR) is an upcoming imaging technique with promising results in other fields of surgery, we aimed in this study to explore the additional value of this technique in heart surgery. Our surgeons planned six different heart operations by visualizing computed tomography scans with a dedicated VR headset, enabling them to visualize the patient’s anatomy in an immersive and 3D environment. The outcomes of this preliminary study are positive, with a much more reality-like simulation for the surgeon. In such, VR could potentially be beneficial as a preoperative planning tool for complex heart surgery.

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