Published online Feb 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i4.806
Peer-review started: October 1, 2019
First decision: November 4, 2019
Revised: December 11, 2019
Accepted: December 14, 2019
Article in press: December 14, 2019
Published online: February 26, 2020
Processing time: 148 Days and 0.9 Hours
Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital anomaly that refers to a completely reversed location of abdominal and thoracic organs. An extremely small number of patients with this condition, especially those with rectal neoplasms, have been reported. Surgery in these patients is technically challenging. Therefore, we reconstructed a three-dimensional (3D) digital model with the Materialise’s interactive medical image control system (Mimics) as a guide for laparoscopic resection.
We report the case of a 68-year-old woman with rectal neoplasms and SIT diagnosed by electronic colonoscopy biopsy and enhanced computed tomography (CT), which showed that there was a soft tissue mass protruding into the lumen in the lower rectal segment, a lesion that involved the serosal layer, multiple enlarged peripheral lymph nodes, and visceral situs abnormalities. Based on the CT images, we reconstructed a 3D model with Mimics to assist with our surgical planning. Then, we performed laparoscopy-assisted radical resection of the rectal neoplasms and total excision of the lesion. Adjuvant chemotherapy with the XELOX regimen (oxaliplatin 150 mg, D1 + Xeloda 1.0 g, Bid, D1-14) was initiated 1 mo after the operation. The patient recovered well after surgery, and her physical condition remained stable.
Preoperative 3D reconstruction of the imaging results could help reduce the unknown risks during surgery caused by anatomical abnormalities and improve the perioperative safety for patients.
Core tip: This case is the first to use the Materialise’s interactive medical image control system (Mimics) to reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) model using computed tomography images of a patient with situs inversus totalis and rectal neoplasms, which helped to get a better understanding of anatomical structures and make preoperative plans. The more details of anatomy surgeons grasp, the less operating time is needed, and this could improve the quality of surgery and thereby enhance the perioperative safety of patients. Mimics is easy to operate and visually displays 3D anatomical structure, which shows advantages in patients with rare anatomical changes.