title: Cinematic rendering - an alternative to volume rendering for 3D computed tomography imaging.
abstract: Volume rendering (VR) represents today's standard three-dimensional (3-D) image post-processing technique, and often is used to visualize complex anatomical information. Recently, a novel 3-D technique for post-processing of computed tomography (CT) image data has been introduced, which is called cinematic rendering (CR). The objective of this review is to illustrate the image appearance and potential value of CR in comparison with conventional VR in a number of various applications and different anatomical regions. Similar to VR, CR best visualizes high density and high contrast structures such as bones and contrast-enhanced vessels, but at the same time provides a more natural and photo-realistic illumination of the rendered data. Further research will be necessary for determining possible advantages of CR over conventional VR and over two-dimensional (2-D) image post-processing for CT image data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Cinematic rendering is a novel post-processing technique for 3D visualization of CT image data. • Compared to volume rendering, CR results in a more photo-realistic representation of anatomy. • Similar to volume rendering, CR provides best image quality of high density structures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH- 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dappa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH- 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higashigaito
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kantonsspital, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kantonsspital, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leschka
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kantonsspital, St Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wildermuth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, CH- 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. hatem.alkadhi@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alkadhi
keywords: Cinematic rendering; Computed tomography; Image processing; Three-dimensional; Volume rendering