[3-dimensional imaging diagnosis with a personal computer].

During orthodontic and surgical treatment planning of severe dentofacial deformities, 3D-reconstruction imaging from axial CT-scans could previously only be handled by high-capacity computers in radiological centers. The improved performance of personal computers enables CT-scan data be transferred to a standardized MS-DOS computer. The presented software displays a 3D-reconstruction and secondary reformed vertical slices within seconds on the monitor. The symmetry of the 3D-objects can be evaluated with a freely definable grid. The distance between two different landmarks in the 3D-image can also be measured. Various tools for data manipulation permit surgical treatment simulation. The advantage of 3D-imaging with a personal computer is the user-specified orientation of the software. The off-line computing system permits a high degree of flexibility independent of any computing center.