Virtual MR angioscopy of the pulmonary artery tree.
An optimized, contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography sequence is combined with image postprocessing to render interior views of the pulmonary arteries. Virtual angioscopy was successfully demonstrated on both a healthy volunteer and a pulmonary embolism patient. By targeting selected pulmonary artery branches, virtual angioscopy has the potential to become a powerful adjunct to the use of reformatted sections and maximum intensity projections in the assessment of pulmonary embolism.
Ladd
M E
ME
Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland.
Göhde
S C
SC
Steiner
P
P
Pfammatter
T
T
McKinnon
G C
GC
Debatin
J F
JF
D017546:Angioscopy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography