The Bony Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses of Big Felids and Domestic Cat: A Study Using Anatomical Techniques, Computed Tomographic Images Reconstructed in Maximum-Intensity Projection, Volume Rendering and 3D Printing Models
Elena Díaz Martínez,
Alberto Arencibia Espinosa,
Marta Soler Laguía,
María Dolores Ayala Florenciano,
David Kilroy,
María I. García García,
Francisco Martínez Gomariz,
Cayetano Sánchez Collado,
Francisco Gil Cano,
José Raduán Jaber,
Gregorio Ramírez Zarzosa
Affiliations
Elena Díaz Martínez
Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Alberto Arencibia Espinosa
Department of Morphology, Anatomy and Embriology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Transmontaña, Arucas, 35416 Las Palmas, Spain
Marta Soler Laguía
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
María Dolores Ayala Florenciano
Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
David Kilroy
UCD Veterinary Science Centre, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
María I. García García
Support Research Service SACE-ACTI, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Francisco Martínez Gomariz
Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Cayetano Sánchez Collado
Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Francisco Gil Cano
Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
José Raduán Jaber
Department of Morphology, Anatomy and Embriology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Transmontaña, Arucas, 35416 Las Palmas, Spain
Gregorio Ramírez Zarzosa
Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
This study aims to develop three-dimensional printing models of the bony nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses of big and domestic cats using reconstructed computed tomographic images. This work included an exhaustive study of the osseous nasal anatomy of the domestic cat carried out through dissections, bone trepanations and sectional anatomy. With the use of OsiriX viewer, the DICOM images were postprocessed to obtaining maximum-intensity projection and volume-rendering reconstructions, which allowed for the visualization of the nasal cavity structures and the paranasal sinuses, providing an improvement in the future anatomical studies and diagnosis of pathologies. DICOM images were also processed with AMIRA software to obtain three-dimensional images using semiautomatic segmentation application. These images were then exported using 3D Slicer software for three-dimensional printing. Molds were printed with the Stratasys 3D printer. In human medicine, three-dimensional printing is already of great importance in the clinical field; however, it has not yet been implemented in veterinary medicine and is a technique that will, in the future, in addition to facilitating the anatomical study and diagnosis of diseases, allow for the development of implants that will improve the treatment of pathologies and the survival of big felids.
