Cinematic versus volume rendered imaging for the depiction of complex congenital heart disease

Planning for surgical intervention for patients with complex congenital heart disease requires a comprehensive understanding of the individual's anatomy. Cinematic rendering (CR) is a novel technique that purportedly builds on traditional volume rendering (VR) by converting CT image data into clearly defined 3D reconstructions through the stimulation and propagation of light rays. The purpose of this study was to compare CR to VR for the understanding of critical anatomy in unoperated complex congenital heart disease.

In this retrospective study, CT data sets from 20 sequential scanned cases of unoperated paediatric patients with complex congenital heart disease were included. 3D images were produced at standardised and selected orientations, matched for both VR and CR. The images were then independently reviewed by two cardiologists, two radiologists and two surgeons for overall image quality, depth perception and the visualisation of surgically relevant anatomy, the coronary arteries and the pulmonary veins.

Cinematic rendering demonstrated significantly superior image quality, depth perception and visualisation of surgically relevant anatomy than VR.

Cinematic rendering is a novel 3D CT-rendering technique that may surpass the traditionally used volumetric rendering technique in the provision of actionable pre-operative anatomical detail for complex congenital heart disease.