Navigating and visualizing three-dimensional data sets

This paper provides an overview of the main techniques being used for three-dimensional (3D) visualization of medical data sets and highlights some of the clinical benefits that can be obtained. One of the major advantages of using a 3D representation is that all of the slice data produced by the latest multislice CT and high gradient MR scanners can be utilized, and then presented to the clinician in an intuitive format. Continued advances in technology mean that high resolution 3D representations of patient specific anatomy can now be routinely obtained and so provide valuable input to diagnosis, planning and navigation tasks. Examples from these areas are presented and illustrated below. Future developments and possibilities are also discussed.