4. Outlook and developments

Widespread use of the PTM3D system implies a change in surgical habits in health centers. Indeed, the process of preparing to plan interventions requires additional time and a certain mastery of the computer system. Defining the role of each player has proved crucial in all clinical uses of PTM3D. In some hospitals, the radiology department was asked to be responsible for manipulating the radiological data leading to 3D segmentation. In other cases, it was decided that this work should be carried out in the surgery department. As the PTM3D system has a helps system that is compatible with the on-line help system of commonly-used computers, the question of training in its use turned out to be less important than expected. What remains to be defined is the type of operation for which use of the system is desirable, or even necessary.

For the immediate future, priority...