MRI as a viable alternative to CT for 3D surgical planning of cavitary bone tumors.

Cavitary bone defects, defined as a volumetric loss of native bone tissue, require accurate preoperative imaging for treatment planning. While CT (computed tomography) has traditionally been the gold standard for segmentation due to its superior resolution of cortical bone, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) offers unique advantages, particularly in visualizing the soft tissue-bone interface. Furthermore, MRI eliminates the ionizing radiation associated with CT, making it an advantageous alternative, especially in the management of benign and low-grade malignant bone tumors.