Three-dimensional gray scale volume rendering of the liver: preliminary clinical experience.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential clinical usefulness of three-dimensional gray scale volume rendering in the liver.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study and categorized into 2 groups: group I with ascites and group II without. Two types of volume-rendering modes, i.e., surface and transparent, were used to obtain the three-dimensional images. The data were reviewed to identify the differences between two- and three-dimensional images of the liver in each subject.


RESULTS
In group I, three-dimensional sonography was superior to two-dimensional sonography in terms of surface features, edges, overall three-dimensional impression, image clarity, and structural relationships. However, it seemed that three-dimensional sonography in the surface mode was inferior to two-dimensional sonography in showing intrahepatic structures, because it had decreased resolution. In group II, three-dimensional sonography was superior to two-dimensional sonography with respect to the continuity of intrahepatic vessels, overall three-dimensional impression of the vessels, image clarity, and the relationship between lesions and neighboring vessels. However, the resolution of the lesions was decreased in 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience suggests that three-dimensional gray scale volume rendering of the liver provides more diagnostic information than two-dimensional sonography; however, further studies are needed to evaluate its clinical importance.
Xu
Hui-Xiong
HX
Department of Medical Ultrasonics, The First Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Lu
Ming-De
MD
Zhou
Yu-Qing
YQ
Zhang
Qing-Ping
QP
Yin
Xiao-Yu
XY
Xie
Xiao-Yan
XY
Liu
Li
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging