title: Hybrid image visualization tool for 3D integration of CT coronary anatomy and quantitative myocardial perfusion PET.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multimodal cardiac imaging by CTA and quantitative PET enables acquisition of patient-specific coronary anatomy and absolute myocardial perfusion at rest and during stress. In the clinical setting, integration of this information is performed visually or using coronary arteries distribution models. We developed a new tool for CTA and quantitative PET integrated 3D visualization, exploiting XML and DICOM clinical standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hybrid image tool (HIT) developed in the present study included four main modules: (1) volumetric registration for spatial matching of CTA and PET data sets, (2) an interface to PET quantitative analysis software, (3) a derived DICOM generator able to build DICOM data set from quantitative polar maps, and (4) a 3D visualization tool of integrated anatomical and quantitative flow information. The four modules incorporated in the HIT tool communicate by defined standard XML files: XML-transformation and XML MIST standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HIT tool implements a 3D representation of CTA showing real coronary anatomy fused to PET-derived quantitative myocardial blood flow distribution. The technique was validated on 16 data sets from EVINCI study population. The validation of the method confirmed the high matching between "original" and derived data sets as well as the accuracy of the registration procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional integration of patient- specific coronary artery anatomy provided by CTA and quantitative myocardial blood flow obtained from PET imaging can improve cardiac disease assessment. The HIT tool introduced in this paper may represent a significant advancement in the clinical use of this multimodal approach.
authors: Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi n.1, 56124, Pisa, Italy. martina.marinelli@ifc.cnr.it
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Marinelli
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Positano
authors: Stephan G
authors: SG
authors: Nekolla
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Marcheschi
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Todiere
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Esposito
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Puzzuoli
authors: Giuseppe A
authors: GA
authors: L'Abbate
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Marraccini
authors: Danilo
authors: D
authors: Neglia
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed