Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Cone beam computed tomography of plastinated hearts for instruction of radiological anatomy

  • Teaching Anatomy
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Radiological anatomy education is an important aspect of the medical curriculum. The purpose of this study was to establish and demonstrate the use of plastinated anatomical specimens, specifically human hearts, for use in radiological anatomy education. Four human hearts were processed with routine plastination procedures at room temperature. Specimens were subjected to cone beam computed tomography and a graphics program (ER3D) was applied to generate 3D cardiac models. A comparison was conducted between plastinated hearts and their corresponding computer models based on a list of morphological cardiac features commonly studied in the gross anatomy laboratory. Results showed significant correspondence between plastinations and CBCT-generated 3D models (98 %; p < .01) for external structures and 100 % for internal cardiac features, while 85 % correspondence was achieved between plastinations and 2D CBCT slices. Complete correspondence (100 %) was achieved between key observations on the plastinations and internal radiological findings typically required of medical student. All pathologic features seen on the plastinated hearts were also visualized internally with the CBCT-generated models and 2D slices. These results suggest that CBCT-derived slices and models can be successfully generated from plastinated material and provide accurate representations for radiological anatomy education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. An P-C, Zhang M (1999) A technique for preserving the subarachnoid space and its contents in a natural state with different colours. J Int Soc Plast 14(1):12–17

    Google Scholar 

  2. Asadi MH, Mahmodzadeh A (2004) Ascaris plastination through S10 techniques. J Int Soc Plast 19:20–21

    Google Scholar 

  3. Celenk M, Farrell ML, Eren H, Kumar K, Singh GD, Lozanoff S (2010) Upper airway detection and visualization from cone beam image slices. J X-Ray Sci Technol 18:121–135

    Google Scholar 

  4. Correia JAP, Prinz RAD, Benevides de Freitas EC, Pezzi LHA (1998) Labelling and storing plastinated specimens—an experience from Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro. J Int Soc Plast 13(2):17–20

    Google Scholar 

  5. Doll F, Doll S, Kuroyama M, Sora MC, Neufeld E, Lozanoff S (2004) Computerized reconstruction of a plastinated human kidney using serial tissue sections. J Int Soc Plast 19:12–19

    Google Scholar 

  6. Entius CAC, Kuiper JW, Koops W, de Gast A (1993) A new positioning technique for comparing sectional anatomy of the shoulder with sectional diagnostic modalities: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US). J Int Soc Plast 7:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  7. Entius CAC, van Rijn RR, Holstege JC, Stoeckart R, Zwamborn AW (1997) Correlating sheet plastination slices, computed tomography images and magnetic resonance images of the pelvic girdle: a teaching tool. Acta Anat 158:44–47

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fasel JHD (1988) Use of plastinated specimens in surgical education and clinical practice. Clin Anat 1:197–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gao H, Liu J, Yu S, Sui H (2006) A new polyester technique for sheet plastination. J Int Soc Plast 21:7–10

    Google Scholar 

  10. Jacobs J, Caudell T, Wilks D, Keep MF, Mitchell S, Buchanan H, Saland L, Rosenheimer J, Lozanoff BK, Lozanoff S, Saiki S, Alverson D (2003) Integration of advanced technologies to enhance problem-based learning over distance: project TOUCH. Anat Rec 270B:16–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Labrash S, Lozanoff S (2007) Standards and guidelines for willed body donations at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, 2007. Hawaii Med J 66(72):74–75

    Google Scholar 

  12. Latorre RM, Arenchibia A, Gil F, Rivero M, Ramierez G, Vaques-Auton JM, Henry RW (2003) P-40 and S10 plastinated slices: an aide to interpreting MR images of the equine tarsus. J Int Soc Plast 18:14–22

    Google Scholar 

  13. Latorre RM, García-Sanz MP, Moreno M, Hernández F, Gil F, López O, Ayala MD, Ramírez F, Vázquez JM, Arencibia A, Henry RW (2007) How useful is plastination in learning anatomy? J Vet Med Educ 34:172–176

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lufler RS, Zumwalt AC, Romney CA, Hoagland TM (2010) Incorporating radiology into medical gross anatomy: does the use of cadaver CT scans improve students’ academic performance in anatomy? Anat Sci Educ 3:56–63

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Magiros M, Kekic M, Doran GA (1997) Learning relational anatomy by correlation of thin plastinated sections and magnetic resonance images: preparation of a specimen. Acta Anat 158:37–43

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. McNeish LM, von Hagens G (1988) The diagnostic imaging characteristics of plastinated anatomical specimens. J Int Soc Plast 2:24–39

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mirsadraee S, Mankad K, McCoubrie P, Roberts T, Kessel D (2012) Radiology curriculum for undergraduate medical students—a consensus survey. Clin Radiol 67:1155–1161

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Musumeci E, Lang FJW, Duvoisin B, Riederer BM (2003) Plastinated ethmoidal region: I. Preparation and applications in clinical teaching. J Int Soc Plast 18:23–28

    Google Scholar 

  19. Osorio F, Perilla M, Doyle DJ, Palomo JM (2008) Cone beam computed tomography: an innovative tool for airway assessment. Anesth Analg 106:1803–1807

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pendovski L, Ilieski V, Nikolovski G (2004) Silicone plastination of a malpositioned long-term formalin-fixed green iguana. J Int Soc Plast 19:40–42

    Google Scholar 

  21. Poot JD, Hartman MS, Daffner RH (2012) Understanding the US medical school requirements and medical students’ attitudes about radiology rotations. Acad Radiol 19:369–373

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Purinton PT (1991) Plastinated brains used with computer assisted learning modules for teaching veterinary neuroanatomy laboratories. J Int Soc Plast 5:16–19

    Google Scholar 

  23. Qiu MG, Zhang SX, Liu ZJ, Tan LW, Wang YS, Deng JH, Tang ZS (2003) Plastination and computerized 3D reconstruction of the temporal bone. Clin Anat 16:300–303

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Raoof A, Henry RW, Reed RB (2007) Silicone plastination of biological tissue: room temperature technique—Dow™/Corcoran technique and products. J Int Soc Plast 22:21–25

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rizzolo LJ, Stewart WB (2006) Should we continue teaching anatomy by dissection when …? Anat Rec 289:215–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Soler M, Murciano J, Latorre R, Belda E, Rodríquez MJ, Agut A (2007) Ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging anatomy of the normal canine stifle joint. Vet J 174:351–361

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Sora MC, Genser-Strobl B, Radu J, Lozanoff S (2007) Three-dimensional reconstruction of the ankle by means of ultrathin slice plastination. Clin Anat 20:196–200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Straus C, Webb E, Kondo K, Phillips A, Naeger D, Carrico C, Herring W, Neutze J, Haines R, Dodd G (2014) Medical student radiology education: summary and recommendations from a national survey of medical school and radiology department leadership. J Am Coll Radiol 11:606–610

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sukovic P (2003) Cone beam computed tomography in craniofacial imaging. Orthod Craniofacial Res 6:31–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Tamura K, Stickley CD, Labrash SJ, Lozanoff S (2014) Effectiveness of plastinated anatomical specimens depicting common sports injuries to enhance musculoskeletal injury evaluation education. Athl Train Educ 9:174–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tso HH, Lee JS, Huang JC, Maki K, Hatcher D, Miller AJ (2009) Evaluation of the human airway using cone-beam computerized tomography. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 108:768–776

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tunali S, Kawamoto K, Farrell ML, Tamura K, Labrash S, Lozanoff S (2011) Computerised 3D anatomical modelling using plastinates: an example utilising the human heart. Folia Morphol 70:191–196

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Upton G, Fingleton B (1985) Spatial data analysis by example. Point pattern and quantitative data, vol 1. Wiley, New York, pp 224–228

    Google Scholar 

  34. von Hagens G (1985) Heidelberg plastination folder: collection of technical leaflets for plastination. AnatomischesInstitut 1, Universitat Heidelberg, Heidelberg, pp 1–14

Download references

Acknowledgments

Ms. Beth K. Lozanoff assisted in the preparation of the figures. Scott Lozanoff and Michael Farrell disclose that they are the developers of the 3D modeling software used in this study. Dr. Selcuk Tunali was instrumental for the creation of the plastinations used in this study. The authors acknowledge the generous donation of the anatomical materials by anonymous individuals in the Willed Body Program, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, supported by UCERA (SL).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chih-Wei Chang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research. However, Dr. Scott Lozanoff and Mr. Michael Farrell maintain a commercial interest in the software used in this study (ER3D) and the terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.

Additional information

Chih-Wei Chang and Gregory Atkinson co-contributed equally to the project.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chang, CW., Atkinson, G., Gandhi, N. et al. Cone beam computed tomography of plastinated hearts for instruction of radiological anatomy. Surg Radiol Anat 38, 843–853 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1645-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1645-6

Keywords

Navigation