Making Anatomic Preparations of the Human Brain Using Colored Silicone for Vascular Perfusion Staining (Technical Description)

Background: A thorough understanding of the central nervous system anatomy is a fundamental part of a neurosurgeon's training. Development of novel neurosurgical approaches and optimization of existing ones directly depend on the comprehensive study of topographic anatomy of the head and neck using cadaveric specimens. Staining the vessels of the arterial and venous systems of a cadaveric specimen aids a detailed study of the vascularization of anatomic structures of the brain. Here we describe an alternative expedited method for creating anatomic preparations of the human brain using colored silicone for vascular perfusion staining.

Methods: A nonfixed, whole cadaver (with the head intact), without central nervous system pathology, no later than 48 hours after death, is used to prepare the human brain specimen through staining of arterial and venous vessels.

Results: Our proposed method provides a fast and inexpensive approach to making anatomic preparations of the human brain with staining of the vascular system. The preparations thus obtained can be used for educational purposes, aiding the study of normal and topographic anatomy of the brain, as well as the development of new microsurgical and/or endoscopic approaches.

Conclusions: In experienced hands, our proposed method allows the creation of anatomic preparations relatively fast, at low cost, and with excellent quality.