Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2010; 20(02): 92-97
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.63043
Computers in Radiology

The diagnostic contribution of CT volumetric rendering techniques in routine practice

Simone Perandini
Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
N Faccioli
Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
A Zaccarella
Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
TJ Re
Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
R Pozzi Mucelli
Department of Radiology, G.B. Rossi Hospital, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) volumetric rendering techniques such as maximum intensity projection (MIP), minimum intensity projection (MinIP), shaded surface display (SSD), volume rendering (VR), and virtual endoscopy (VE) provide added diagnostic capabilities. The diagnostic value of such reconstruction techniques is well documented in literature. These techniques permit the exploration of fine anatomical detail that would be difficult to evaluate using axial reconstructions alone. Although these techniques are now widely available, many radiologists are either unfamiliar with them or do not fully utilize their potential in daily clinical practice. This paper is intended to provide an overview of the most common CT volumetric rendering techniques and their practical use in everyday diagnostics.

Keywords

Computed tomography - CT - volume rendering - VR - MIP - MinIP - shaded surface display - virtual endoscopy - curved plane reconstructions


Publication History

Article published online:
02 August 2021

© 2010. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Diederich S, Lentschig MG, Overbeck TR, Wormanns D, Heindel W. Detection of pulmonary nodules at spiral CT: comparison of maximum intensity projection sliding slabs and single-image reporting. Eur Radiol 2001;11:1345-50.
  • 2 Peloschek P, Sailer J, Weber M, Herold CJ, Prokop M, Schaefer-Prokop C. Pulmonary nodules: sensitivity of maximum intensity projection versus that of volume rendering of 3D multidetector CT data. Radiology 2007;243:561-9.
  • 3 Li AE, Fishman EK. Cervical spine trauma: evaluation by multidetector CT and three-dimensional volume rendering. Emerg Radiol 2003;10:34-9.
  • 4 Salvolini L, Bichi Secchi E, Costarelli L, De Nicola M. Clinical applications of 2D and 3D CT imaging of the airways: a review. Eur J Radiol 2000;34:9-25.
  • 5 Fox LA, Vannier MW, West OC, Wilson AJ, Baran GA, Pilgram TK. Diagnostic performance of CT, MPR and 3DCT imaging in maxillofacial trauma. Comput Med Imaging Graph 1995;19:385-95.
  • 6 Nghiem HV, Dimas CT, McVicar JP, Perkins JD, Luna JA, Winter TC 3rd, et al. Impact of double helical CT and three-dimensional CT arteriography on surgical planning for hepatic transplantation. Abdom Imaging 1999;24:278-84.
  • 7 Fotheringham T, Chabat F, Hansell DM, Wells AU, Desai SR, Gόckel C, et al. A comparison of methods for enhancing the detection of areas of decreased attenuation on CT caused by airways disease. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1999;23:385-9.
  • 8 Rao ND, Gulati MS, Paul SB, Pande GK, Sahni P, Chattopadhyay TK. Three-dimensional helical computed tomography cholangiography with minimum intensity projection in gallbladder carcinoma patients with obstructive jaundice: comparison with magnetic resonance cholangiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2005;20:304-8.
  • 9 Calhoun PS, Kuszyk BS, Heath DG, Carley JC, Fishman EK. Three-dimensional volume rendering of spiral CT data: theory and method. Radiographics 1999;19:745-64.
  • 10 Pretorius ES, Fishman EK. Spiral CT and threedimensional CT of musculoskeletal pathology. Radiol Clin North Am 1999;37:953-74.
  • 11 Cerini R, Faccioli N, Barillari M, De Iorio M, Carner M, Colletti V. Bionic ear imaging. Radiol Med 2005;113:265-77.
  • 12 Jolesz FA, Lorensen WE, Shinmoto H, Atsumi H, Nakajima S, Kavanaugh P, et al. Interactive virtual endoscopy. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1997;169:1229-35.
  • 13 Lee DH, Ko YT. The role of three-dimensional and axial imaging in advanced gastric carcinoma by spiral CT. Abdom Imaging 1999;24:111-6.
  • 14 Kinami S, Yao T, Kurachi M, Ishizaki Y. Clinical evaluation of 3D-CT cholangiography for preoperative examination in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. J Gastroenterol 1999;34:111-8.
  • 15 Sajjad Z, Oxtoby J, West D, Deakin M. Biliary imaging by spiral CT cholangiography: a retrospective analysis. Br J Radiol 1999;72:149-52.
  • 16 Sun Z. 3D multislice CT angiography in post-aortic stent grafting: a pictorial essay. Korean J Radiol 2006;7:205-11.
  • 17 Nino-Murcia M, Jeffrey RB Jr, Beaulieu CF, Li KC, Rubin GD. Multidetector CT of the pancreas and bile duct system: value of curved planar reformations. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2001;176:689-93.
  • 18 Abildgaard A, Karlsen JS, Heiberg L, Bosse G, Hol PK. Improved visualization of artificial pulmonary nodules with a new subvolume rendering technique. Acta Radiol 2008;49:761-8.