Fixation, registration, and image-guided navigation using a thermoplastic facial mask in electromagnetic navigation–guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation

ObjectiveFor fixation, registration, and image-guided navigation, the aim of this study was to evaluate a thermoplastic facial mask with plastic markers in achieving frameless stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT).Study designA thermoplastic facial mask was remolded according to each subject's face. Six markers were placed on the surface and 6 inside. Series of 1.25-mm- and 2.5-mm-slice computerized tomography (CT) scans were made to provide radiologic data. During the phantom study, each plastic sphere inside was selected in turn as the target for frameless stereotaxy. The clinical Hartel puncture of the foramen ovale (FO) was imitated using an electromagnetic navigation system. Navigation-guided RFT was tried in 3 patients.ResultsThe mean location error was 1.29 mm (SD ±0.39 mm). No significant difference (P > .05) was proven between 1.25-mm and 2.5-mm CT slice acquisition for the image datasets used. The FO punctures in clinical trials were successful and confirmed by CT.ConclusionsRegistration and fixation via a fiducial marker–based thermoplastic facial mask is accurate and feasible for use in navigation-guided RFT.