van Ooijen Peter M A, Ho Kai Yiu, Dorgelo Joost, Oudkerk Matthijs
Department of Radiology, Groningen University Hospital, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Radiographics. 2003 Nov-Dec;23(6):e16. doi: 10.1148/rg.e16. Epub 2003 Aug 7.
Noninvasive imaging of the coronary arteries has attracted growing interest in the past few years. One of the possible acquisition techniques is multidetector computed tomography (CT) that produces large three-dimensional (3D) data sets that require visualization techniques for data evaluation. The objective of this article is to increase knowledge of possible 3D visualization techniques together with their advantages and disadvantages for the routine evaluation of cardiac data sets. Common imaging techniques available to the radiologist at standard workstations are multiplanar reformation (MPR), oblique MPR, curved MPR, maximum-intensity projection (MIP), shaded-surface display, and direct volume rendering. Each of these techniques has its advantages and disadvantages for the visualization of the coronary artery tree. Several additions to the basic techniques have been developed to overcome some of their shortcomings. Different clinical examinations, such as stent evaluation, stenosis evaluation, and bypass evaluation, require different visualization techniques. The choice of preferred technique for each clinical study depends on the advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques as described in the literature. Because of the large number of possible settings and projection angles, it is important for users to interactively manipulate the images and review the whole vessel volume rather than just looking at static reformatted images. Errors such as findings of false stenoses can be avoided by means of accurate and appropriate use of software features. This requires training of users both with regard to the capabilities of the software and the background of the different techniques and their possible pitfalls. The authors believe that volume rendering of the whole heart is useful for anatomic evaluation of the coronary arteries. For more detailed observation of specific lesions, slab imaging with volume rendering or MIP is required.
在过去几年中，冠状动脉的无创成像越来越受到关注。一种可能的采集技术是多排螺旋计算机断层扫描（CT），它会生成大型三维（3D）数据集，需要可视化技术来进行数据评估。本文的目的是增加对可能的3D可视化技术及其在心脏数据集常规评估中的优缺点的了解。放射科医生在标准工作站上可用的常见成像技术有多平面重建（MPR）、斜位MPR、曲面MPR、最大密度投影（MIP）、表面阴影显示和直接容积再现。这些技术中的每一种在冠状动脉树的可视化方面都有其优缺点。为了克服它们的一些缺点，已经开发了一些对基本技术的补充方法。不同的临床检查，如支架评估、狭窄评估和搭桥评估，需要不同的可视化技术。每个临床研究首选技术的选择取决于文献中描述的各种技术的优缺点。由于可能的设置和投影角度数量众多，用户交互式地操作图像并查看整个血管容积而不仅仅是查看静态重建图像非常重要。通过准确和适当地使用软件功能，可以避免诸如发现假狭窄等错误。这需要对用户进行关于软件功能以及不同技术的背景及其可能陷阱的培训。作者认为，全心脏容积再现对于冠状动脉的解剖评估很有用。对于特定病变的更详细观察，需要使用容积再现或MIP的薄层成像。
