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Hybrid rendering of the cervico-cranial arteries using spiral computed tomography
M Seemann1, K Englmeier, M Haubner
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich, D-81377, Germany.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to develop a shaded-surface and volume display (hybrid rendering method) of the whole vascular system of the cervico-cranial arteries using spiral computed tomography (SCT).
Materials And Methods:
We examined 12 patients with anatomic abnormalities and pathological conditions of the arterial vascular system. The cervico-cranial arteries were segmented using an interactive threshold interval density volume-growing method and visualized with a color-coded shaded-surface display (SSD) rendering method. The adjacent bone structures were visualized using a transparent volume rendering method.
Results:
In all cases, the entire volume of the vascular system of the cervico-cranial arteries and the anatomic abnormalities and pathological conditions could be visualized.
Conclusion:
Hybrid rendering of the circulation of the cervico-cranial arteries using image data sets from a subsecond spiral CT scanner is useful for the visualization of anatomical and pathological abnormalities and offer a promising minimally invasive alternative compared with other diagnostic procedures.