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How can a surgeon match a brain scan to the patient on the table?

A brain scan is a map, but surgery needs that map to line up with a real patient in a real position. Navigation systems register the two using matching features or markers, then relate tracked instruments to the images. Even a good initial match has limits: anatomy can shift during an operation, so the original map may need updating.

5–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • Why might a more detailed scan still fail to solve a problem of alignment?

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  • BrainlabCranial Navigation

    Shows examples of matching scan data to the patient, including surface matching and markers. It is a manufacturer’s description of particular systems.

  • BrainlabUltrasound Navigation

    Explains why navigation can lose accuracy during surgery and why updated imaging may be needed.

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How can a surgeon match a brain scan to the patient on the table? | Speech Topic | speaking.app