Hybrid rendering of the cervico-cranial arteries using spiral computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
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).


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Seemann
M
M
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich, D-81377, Germany.
Englmeier
K
K
Haubner
M
M
Luboldt
W
W
Heuck
A
A
Reiser
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*