Volume rendering of the tracheobronchial tree: clinical evaluation of bronchographic images.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the application of the volume-rendering technique to airway disease.


METHODS
Seventy-four spiral computed tomographic (CT) examination (1- to 5-mm section thickness; pitch, 1.7-20.0) were performed for known or suspected abnormality of the airways, including (a) benign tracheobronchial stenosis (group 1, n = 47), (b) complex airway lesions (group 2, n = 15), and (c) bronchiectasis (group 3, n - 12). Two radiologists independently compared overlapping transverse CT scans and volume-rendered bronchographic images for detection of airway abnormalities and identification of lesion morphology and extent, with bronchoscopic correlation.


RESULTS
Bronchographic image quality was graded as excellent (73%) or good (24%), whereas motion-related artifacts led to poor image quality in 3% of cases (trapezoid parameters included window width of -700 to -350 HU, triangular trapezoid shape, parenchymal opacification of 70%, unshaded algorithm). Compared with transverse CT scans, volume-rendered images (a) provided supplemental group 3, even, seven), (b) improved confidence in the interpretation of congenital airway abnormalities in six cases (8%) (all from group 2), and (c) corrected interpretive errors in four cases (5%) (group 1, two cases; group 2, two).


CONCLUSIONS
Volume-rendered images improved the recognition of mild changes in airway caliber and the understand of complex tracheobronchial anomalies.
Department of Radiology, Hôpital Calmette, Lille, France.
M
M
Remy-Jardin
J
J
Remy
D
D
Artaud
M
M
Fribourg
A
A
Duhamel
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016477:Artifacts; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001995:Bronchography; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery