Effects of CT/MRI Image Fusion on Cerebrovascular Protection, Postoperative Complications, and Limb Functional Recovery in Patients with Anterior and Middle Skull Base Tumors: Based on a Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of CT/MRI image fusion on cerebrovascular protection, postoperative complications and limb function recovery in patients with anterior and middle skull base tumors. METHODS: During January 2019 to December 2021, a retrospective study was conducted on 50 patients who underwent anterior and middle skull base tumor resection in the same surgeon group in our hospital. According to the different surgical approaches, the patients were assigned to the fusion group (n = 29) and the routine group (n = 21). The routine group was operated with traditional operation, and the fusion group was operated with CT/MRI image fusion technique. The operation time, wound volume, resection rate and Karnofsky performance status (KPS), blood transfusion (vascular protection), tumor resection rate, and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: The time of operation in the fusion group was shorter compared to the routine group, and the volume of the wound cavity in the fusion group was smaller compared to the routine group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Following treatment, the KPS score of the fusion group was remarkably higher compared to the routine group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The intraoperative blood transfusion rate in the fusion group was 17.24%, and the intraoperative blood transfusion rate in the routine group was 47.62%, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The resection rate in the fusion group (89.66%) was remarkably higher compared to the routine group (61.90%, P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the fusion group (6.90%) was remarkably lower compared to the control group (33.33%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application of CT/MRI image-fusion technology can effectively enhance the clinical symptoms of patients with tumors in the anterior and middle region of the skull base, which can promote the prognosis, shorten the operation time, reduce unnecessary cerebral neurovascular injuries, and retain more brain functions.