Cranial Reconstruction for Infiltrative Meningioma Using 68Ga-DOTATATE Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography and Individual Patient Solutions CaseDesigner®: A Case Series.

Background and objectives: Meningioma with bone involvement presents challenges for complete resection and cranial reconstruction. 68Ga-dodecanetetreaacetic acid tyrosine-3-octreotide (DOTATATE) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has emerged as an excellent modality for localizing invasive meningiomas because of molecular interaction with somatostatin receptor-2. We present a novel technique to design 3-dimensional-printed artificial cranioplasty, using combined fine-slice CT, MRI, and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT with Individual Patient Solutions (IPS) CaseDesigner® software. This study's objective was to generate proof-of-concept work for a novel artificial cranioplasty protocol that combines customized cranial implant software and DOTATATE PET/CT.

Methods: Three patients with invasive bone meningiomas were retrospectively identified. For each patient, the proposed protocol combines CT, MRI, and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging to generate a 3-dimensional cranial reconstruction within the Karl Leibinger Surgical (KLS) Martin-IPS CaseDesigner® software. Subsequently, the virtual rendering is used to manufacture a customized polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant, along with a guiding component, which ensures precise delineation of surgical borders before craniectomy. Finally, cranioplasty with the customized implant is performed using standard techniques.

Results: The described preoperative cranioplasty design protocol was performed for each patient. Tumor invasion was visualized using 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT. Patient 1 presented with a recurrent right frontal meningioma with invasion into anterior skull base. In this case, IPS CaseDesigner® was used to create a mirror image PEEK implant for the left orbit and affected cranium. Patients 2 and 3 had intraosseous meningiomas invading the frontal bone; customized PEEK implants were tailored to the side of the planned craniectomy for both patients and were successfully placed without complication. Postoperatively, all patients remained neurologically intact and were discharged without complications. In all patients, the PEEK implants exhibited appropriate cranial continuity and integrity.

Conclusion: 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting meningiomas during preoperative planning, particularly when the tumor involves bone. IPS CaseDesigner® demonstrates excellent utility for planning and constructing customized cranioplasties tailored to each patient for skull reconstruction.