Virtual reality ultrasound imaging of the normal and abnormal fetal central nervous system.
OBJECTIVE
In fetal ultrasound imaging, teaching and experience are of paramount importance to improve prenatal detection rates of fetal abnormalities. Yet both aspects depend on exposure to normal and, in particular, abnormal 'specimens'. We aimed to generate a number of simple virtual reality (VR) objects of the fetal central nervous system for use as educational tools.


METHODS
We applied a recently proposed algorithm for the generation of fetal VR object movies to the normal and abnormal fetal brain and spine. Interactive VR object movies were generated from ultrasound volume data from normal fetuses and fetuses with typical brain or spine anomalies. Pathognomonic still images from all object movies were selected and annotated to enable recognition of these features in the object movies.


RESULTS
Forty-six virtual reality object movies from 22 fetuses (two with normal and 20 with abnormal brains) were generated in an interactive display format (QuickTime) and key images were annotated. The resulting .mov files are available for download from the website of this journal.


CONCLUSIONS
VR object movies can be generated from educational ultrasound volume datasets, and may prove useful for teaching and learning normal and abnormal fetal anatomy.
Tutschek
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Bern, Effingerstrasse 102, Bern CH-3010, Switzerland. tutschek@insel.ch
Pilu
G
G
D000465:Algorithms; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*