[Three-dimensional MR brain image using volume rendering method]

3-dimensional image reconstructed from the data of computer tomography has provided useful informations for the pre-operative evaluation in the field of neurosurgery and plastic surgery. However CT has failed to visualized the 3-dimensional surface image of the central nervous system. On the other hand the progress of high-speed data acquisition technique and 3-dimensional fourier transformation has enabled the practical 3-dimensional image using magnetic resonance imager. However for the visualization of a pure surface image of the brain and spinal cord a sophisticated method and special image work station has been necessary. The authors describe a technique for the pure surface image of the brain and spinal cord using a normal mini-computer system and magnetic resonance imager. This image has a good correlation to the macroscopic anatomical brain surface (sulci and gyri).