Toward an optimal cadaveric brain model for neurosurgical education: assessment of preservation, parenchyma, vascular injection, and imaging

Authors

Giancarlo Mignucci-Jiménez, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Yuan Xu, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Thomas J. On, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Irakliy Abramov, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Lena Mary Houlihan, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Redi Rahmani, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Grant Koskay, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Sahin Hanalioglu, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Ali Tayebi Meybodi, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Michael T. Lawton, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
Mark C. Preul, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA. Neuropub@barrowneuro.org.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We assessed types of cadaveric head and brain tissue specimen preparations that are used in a high throughput neurosurgical research laboratory to determine optimal preparation methods for neurosurgical anatomical research, education, and training. METHODS: Cadaveric specimens (N = 112) prepared using different preservation and vascular injection methods were imaged, dissected, and graded by 11 neurosurgeons using a 21-point scale. We assessed the quality of tissue and preservation in both the anterior and posterior circulations. Tissue quality was evaluated using a 9-point magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scale. RESULTS: Formalin-fixed specimens yielded the highest scores for assessment (mean ± SD [17.0 ± 2.8]) vs. formalin-flushed (17.0 ± 3.6) and MRI (6.9 ± 2.0). Cadaver assessment and MRI scores were positively correlated (P < 0.001, R 0.60). Analysis showed significant associations between cadaver assessment scores and specific variables: nonformalin fixation (β = -3.3), preservation within ≤72 h of death (β = 1.8), and MRI quality score (β = 0.7). Formalin-fixed specimens exhibited greater hardness than formalin-flushed and nonformalin-fixed specimens (P ≤ 0.006). Neurosurgeons preferred formalin-flushed specimens injected with colored latex. CONCLUSION: For better-quality specimens for neurosurgical education and training, formalin preservation within ≤72 h of death was preferable, as was injection with colored latex. Formalin-flushed specimens more closely resembled live brain parenchyma. Assessment scores were lower for preparation techniques performed > 72 h postmortem and for nonformalin preservation solutions. The positive correlation between cadaver assessment scores and our novel MRI score indicates that donation organizations and institutional buyers should incorporate MRI as a screening tool for the selection of high-quality specimens.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Cadaver; Brain (diagnostic imaging); Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods); Neurosurgery (education); Neurosurgical Procedures (methods)

Publication Date

4-25-2024

Publication Title

Neurosurgical review

E-ISSN

1437-2320

Volume

47

Issue

1

First Page

190

PubMed ID

38658446

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/s10143-024-02363-7

Recommended Citation

Mignucci-Jiménez, Giancarlo; Xu, Yuan; On, Thomas J.; Abramov, Irakliy; Houlihan, Lena Mary; Rahmani, Redi; Koskay, Grant; Hanalioglu, Sahin; Meybodi, Ali Tayebi; Lawton, Michael T.; and Preul, Mark C., "Toward an optimal cadaveric brain model for neurosurgical education: assessment of preservation, parenchyma, vascular injection, and imaging" (2024). Neurosurgery. 2030.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurosurgery/2030