New insights in pelvic anatomy and implications for radical nerve-sparing pelvic surgery. From microscopy to a virtual 3D anatomical atlas

Abstract

The pelvis is often considered to be complex due to the intricate relationship between the pelvic organs and vital structures such as blood vessels, lymphatics, autonomic and somatic nerves. In case of rectal or cervical cancer, an excellent knowledge of the pelvic anatomy is essential to achieve optimal oncological and functional outcomes. This thesis describes specific parts of the pelvic anatomy that have remained controversial or have not been described from the perspective of a surgical oncological approach. In addition, a novel 3D virtual anatomical atlas was developed to create a bridge between 2D generic anatomy to in vivo surgical anatomy and to enhance patient-specific surgical planning and guidance.