title: Development of a method for reconstructing three-dimensional data from axial, sagittal, and coronal MR images.
abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful for the diagnosis of brain atrophy and intracranial abnormalities. We have developed a method of automated volumetry to evaluate the degree of brain atrophy for the diagnosis of dementia. Whole-brain MR images with thin slices without gaps are required for segmentation and volumetry. However, obtaining such images requires that the patient remain at rest for a prolonged period, thereby reducing the throughput of MR imaging examinations. Therefore, a method is needed for the reconstruction of isotropic three-dimensional (3D) data using routine axial, sagittal, and coronal MR images with 30% gaps and measurement of brain volume. The method of reconstructing 3D data consists of four processes: 1) segmentation of the brain region on axial, sagittal, and coronal MR images using the region-growing technique; 2) setting data to a 3D domain; 3) registration by manual operation; and 4) interpolation between the data based on linear interpolation. In clinical MR images, the differences between this method and the conventional technique were less than 10%. These results demonstrate that this technique is able to construct 3D data from axial, sagittal, and coronal MR images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Hospital.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanada
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujii
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged