Development and Validation of a Neurosurgical Phantom for Simulating External Ventricular Drain Placement.

This study aimed to develop and validate a cost-effective, customizable patient-specific phantom for simulating external ventricular drain placement, combining image segmentation, 3-D printing and molding techniques. Two variations of the phantom were created based on patient MRI data, integrating a realistic skin layer with anatomical landmarks, a 3-D printed skull, an agarose polysaccharide gel brain, and a ventricular cavity. To validate the phantom, 15 neurosurgeons, residents, and physician assistants performed 30 EVD placements.

NnU-Net versus mesh growing algorithm as a tool for the robust and timely segmentation of neurosurgical 3D images in contrast-enhanced T1 MRI scans.

Purpose: This study evaluates the nnU-Net for segmenting brain, skin, tumors, and ventricles in contrast-enhanced T1 (T1CE) images, benchmarking it against an established mesh growing algorithm (MGA).

Methods: We used 67 retrospectively collected annotated single-center T1CE brain scans for training models for brain, skin, tumor, and ventricle segmentation. An additional 32 scans from two centers were used test performance compared to that of the MGA.

Segmentation techniques of brain arteriovenous malformations for 3D visualization: a systematic review.

Background: Visualization, analysis and characterization of the angioarchitecture of a brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) present crucial steps for understanding and management of these complex lesions. Three-dimensional (3D) segmentation and 3D visualization of bAVMs play hereby a significant role. We performed a systematic review regarding currently available 3D segmentation and visualization techniques for bAVMs.

Imaging Findings in Pediatric COVID-19: A Review of Current Literature.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has afflicted over 200 million individuals to date, with many different organ systems involved. The pediatric involvement has been variable, but of note is the risk of cardiac disease in pediatric COVID-19 patients. We review here the cardiac involvement in pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Trisomy 18 Trends over the Last 20 Years.

Objective: To evaluate the trends in hospitalizations for children with trisomy 18 over time and to determine the rate of invasive procedures on these children, using a large inpatient database.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis using the Kids' Inpatient Database from 1997 to 2016 was performed for trisomy 18. We evaluated survival to discharge as well as the presence of pulmonary, skeletal, neurologic, gastrointestinal, renal, and hematologic/bleeding problems.