Optical imaging with 3-D reconstruction of torso topography in common
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optical imaging with 3-D reconstruction of torso topography in common anterior chest wall anomalies. Modified Haller index obtained with Diers scan
IRAS ID
113166
Contact name
Sean Marven
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Children`s Hospital
Research summary
Pectus Excavatum (PE) and Pectus Carinatum (PC)are common paediatric chest wall anomalies. PE is the most common anomaly and it varies in severity from mild, asymptomatic deformity to very severe deformity with cardiac or pulmonary compression causing obstructive dysfunctions as well as psychosocial effects. PE can be corrected surgically.
The diagnosis of PE is clinical. However, the pre-operative quantitative assessment of the severity of the deformity is measured radiologically.
Several methods have been developed to assess the severity of pectus excavatum, which usually involve measuring the distance from the sternum to the spine. Perhaps the most commonly used method is that of Haller et al; this method uses a ratio of the transverse distance to the anteroposterior distance derived from chest CT or MRI scans. In the Haller system, a score of 3.25 or higher is associated with a severe defect that requires surgery.
The downsides of these assessment methods are:
1. Exposure to ionizing radiations if a CT is performed (dose of 5 mSv which is equivalent to 100 chest x-rays, and to 243 days for Equivalent Effective Dose from Natural Background Radiation)
2. MRI requires no ionizing radiation, but uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body. For this reason it can not be repeated once the operation for PE has been performed and the corrective metal bar is in the chest. Furthermore MRI is more expensive than CT (double the price).
In our institution, the Thoracic and Radiology Services perform preoperative MRI examination of chest wall deformities.
Orthopaedic surgeons use several non-x-ray methods for detecting and monitoring musculoskeletal abnormalities (such as scoliosis) which optically map trunk surface appearance.
We would like to investigate the use of torso surface optical measurement device (DIERS scan) as an alternative to MRI for the pre-operative assessment and post-operative monitoring of chest wall deformities with no radiation exposure. We will compare the measurements obtained with the DIERS scan with the standard severity index obtained with MRI scan.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0332
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion