Comparison of convolution and ray-tracing methods for computing small blood vessel images in angiography

Two methods for computing x-ray images of small blood vessels in angiography are presently available, namely, convolution and ray tracing. The convolution method, which is simpler and more powerful than the ray-tracing method, is based on the assumption that blood vessel imaging is isoplantic, whereas ray tracing is considered to provide correct images. In this study, the approximation error (difference between two images, normalized by the maximum value) due to nonisoplanatic imaging was determined by computation of blood vessel images according to both methods. The approximation error for geometric conditions normally encountered in angiography was less than 0.01. It is concluded that an approximation error of this magnitude is negligible and that the convolution method can be applied instead of the ray-tracing method for the computation of images of small blood vessels.