The Role of Image-Guidance Systems for Head and Neck Surgery

Abstract
THE ADVENT of minimally invasive surgery of the head and neck has prompted the development of image-guidance systems to assist the surgeon with intraoperative anatomical localization. These systems use computerized tracking devices to monitor the position of endoscopic instruments relative to the patient's anatomical landmarks. The location of these instruments is depicted on a real-time, 3-dimensional video display of the preoperative computed tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.