title: Semiautomated three-dimensional craniofacial imaging and modeling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The author identified clinical parameters and developed thresholding strategies that facilitate semiautomated three-dimensional craniofacial imaging and modeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  A polyvinylchloride phantom was imaged on a computed tomography (CT) scanner using multiple scan planes, surrounding media, and two-dimensional reconstruction filters. Three-dimensional reconstructions were performed by an experienced operator on a commercial workstation. A simple mathematical thresholding algorithm derived from these trials was applied to 17 embryologic craniofacial specimens and compared with operator-selected thresholds in the generation of three-dimensional CT images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Utilization of the parameter alpha provides an experimental framework in which operator-selected thresholds can be used to refine simple mathematical thresholding formulae. We demonstrated significant changes in three-dimensional image accuracy based on CT scan plane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experimentation with a CT phantom enables semiautomated three-dimensional craniofacial imaging and modeling. Further investigation of two-dimensional CT craniofacial datasets is justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008961:Models, Structural; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed