Three-dimensional bone-free computed tomographic angiography of aneurysms near the skull base using a new bone-removal application.
OBJECTIVE
Bone elimination is needed for computed tomography angiography (CTA) because bone structures obscure aneurysms located at the skull base. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D)-CTA using an application for bone elimination.


METHODS
A total of 27 patients with 32 angiographically confirmed aneurysms near the skull base were investigated. The 3D maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were initially obtained using the application. Further postprocessing was performed to obtain the MIP and volume-rendered (VR) images. The quality of the initial MIP images by the application was analyzed. Visualization of aneurysms after further processing was also reviewed.


RESULTS
The initial MIP images by the application showed almost bone-free images in 23 of the 27 patients. In 8 patients, the image of the internal carotid artery (ICA) was segmentally removed in the initial MIP images by the application. Further postprocessing was able to recover all loss of the ICA image in these eight patients. For visualizing aneurysms and their necks, VR images with the application were significantly superior to VR images without the application.


CONCLUSIONS
The application for bone elimination allows fast, selective elimination of bony structures and can improve the interpretation of aneurysms near the skull base.
Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita, 010-8543, Japan. tomura@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Noriaki
N
Tomura
Takahiro
T
Otani
Ikuo
I
Sakuma
Satoshi
S
Takahashi
Toshiaki
T
Nishii
Jiro
J
Watarai
D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed