OBJECTIVETo investigate the application efficacy of three-dimensional tumor mapping technique for diagnosis and treatment of maxillary cancer.

METHODSSeventeen patients (aged from 9 to 74 years with an average age of 44.2 years) diagnosed with maxillary malignant tumors (13 for primary cancer and 4 for recurrent cancer) in Peking University School of Stomatology from December 2012 to October 2014 were reviewed as experimental group, in whom three-dimensional tumor mapping was performed before surgery, and 18 patients underwent traditional surgery in the same period as control group. Three-dimensional tumor imaging was generated with conversion of CT data into DICOM format by a software. Virtual plan of tumor resection and osteotomy was also manipulated according to the three-dimensional position of the tumor. Surgical navigation was used in the operation to confirm the virtual plan. The real position and situation of tumor was evaluated in the operation and compared with the pre-operative design. The frozen section was applied to confirm the margin after tumor resection. All the patients were followed up and the prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTSThe real situation of the tumor in the operation matched well with the result of pre-operative tumor mapping and positive margin was detected only in one case. While in the control group, 2 of 18 patients presented with positive margin in the operation. The mean follow-up time was 14.8 months (range from 2.0 to 22.0 months). Local recurrence occurred in 4 cases of experimental group and in 6 cases of controlled group, and all of them were with advanced malignant tumors.

CONCLUSIONThe three-dimensional tumor mapping technique is a feasible and reliable method for the diagnosis and treatment of maxillary malignant tumor, and use of this technique can significantly improve the clinical outcome.