A randomized educational study assessing a three-dimensional virtual dissection environment for learning anatomy relevant to the endoscopic endonasal approach.

Uchida, Xu, Kin, Vigo, Cohen-Gadol, Fernandez-Miranda and colleagues developed an interactive virtual model containing 304 anatomical structures of the sellar and parasellar regions. Twenty-eight neurosurgical residents were randomized to virtual dissection or conventional learning methods.

Residents using the virtual environment demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in anatomical knowledge, with particularly strong gains in cavernous sinus anatomy. The study supports the educational value of structured 3D dissection, although it does not yet demonstrate improved operative performance.

Why it matters

This paper is directly relevant to the educational mission of Inside Neurosurgery. It provides evidence that an interactive dissection environment can improve understanding of complex endonasal anatomy and may complement cadaveric training, surgical video and laboratory-based education.

Reference

Uchida T, Xu Y, Kin T, Vigo V, Cohen-Gadol AA, Fernandez-Miranda JC, et al.
Development and evaluation of a virtual dissection environment for anatomical learning in the endoscopic endonasal approach.
Journal of Neurosurgery. 2026;145(4):1069–1080. Published online July 31, 2026.
DOI: 10.3171/2026.2.JNS252684
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