title: Accurate combination of CT and MR data of the head: validation and applications in surgical and therapy planning.
abstract: A method is presented for the accurate combination of magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomographic (CT) images of the head. Our technique is based on user identified 3D landmarks followed by data combination and display as adjacent slices, a single fused slice representation, colour overlay and three-dimensional (3D) rendered scenes. Validation with a point phantom and computer simulation has established the relationship of registration accuracy with point location accuracy, the number of points used and their spatial distribution. The technique is in clinical use in the planning of skull base surgery, transferring MR images acquired without a stereotaxic frame to stereotaxic space, and staging and planning therapy of nasopharyngeal tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, UMDS Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed