title: Magnetic resonance urography by virtual reality modelling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to create a 3D visualization of the urinary tract by a novel virtual reality approach, and to evaluate the usefulness of this method for papillary classification as compared with 2D urogram obtained by maximum intensity projection (MIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In one healthy pig, magnetic resonance urography was performed using a T1-weighted 3D gradient echo pulse sequence. Post-processing was performed by means of an MIP algorithm and by using 3D virtual reality modelling, followed by manual classification of papillae as being either simple or compound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2D MIP urogram demonstrated 6 simple and 6 compound papillae, whereas the 3D urogram demonstrated 5 simple and 7 compound papillae. In both urograms, some papillae were unsuccessfully classified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The possibility of using virtual reality devices allowed 3D rotation and offered additional diagnostic information. However, further studies should reveal its feasibility in diseased kidneys.
authors.affiliation: MR Research Centre, Skejby University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beigi
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sangild
authors.forename: Søren Vorre
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Terkildsen
authors.forename: Dorthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deding
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stødkilde-Jørgensen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D013552:Swine; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology*