Open AccessUtility of transillumination and transparency renderings in 3D transthoracic imaging
Author(s) -
Ilya Karagodin,
Megan Yamat,
A. Dow,
Lydia Rivera,
Amita Singh,
Karima Addetia,
Jeanne M. DeCara,
Cristiane Carvalho Singulane,
Michael P. Henry,
Eric Kruse,
Amit R. Patel,
Victor MorAvi,
Roberto M. Lang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the international journal of cardiovascular imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1875-8312
pISSN - 1569-5794
DOI - 10.1007/s10554-021-02388-9
Subject(s) - transparency (behavior) , transillumination , rendering (computer graphics) , medicine , image quality , computer science , computer vision , pathology , computer security , image (mathematics)
Transillumination (TI) is a new 3D rendering tool that uses a freely movable virtual light source to enhance depth, contours, and image detail. The TI model was recently modified to allow the operator adjust the degree of transparency of both cardiac and extra-cardiac structures. While the addition of transparency was shown to significantly improve quality in 3D transesophageal imaging, this has not yet been shown for transthoracic (TTE) imaging. We prospectively studied 35 patients who underwent clinically indicated TTE with standard 3D acquisition, as well as TI with and without transparency. Six experienced echocardiographers were shown images of all three display types in random order. Each image was scored independently using a Likert Scale while assessing each of the following aspects: ability to identify anatomy or pathology, depth perception, degree of anatomic detail, and border delineation. All experts perceived an incremental value of the transparency mode, compared to TI without transparency and standard 3D rendering, in terms of ability to identify anatomy or pathology (4.15 ± 0.97 vs. 3.88 ± 0.99 vs. 2.52 ± 1.41, p < 0.01), depth perception (4.33 ± 0.78 vs. 3.88 ± 0.82 vs. 2.29 ± 1.07, p < 0.01), degree of anatomic detail (4.08 ± 1.0 vs. 3.89 ± 0.79 vs. 2.31 ± 1.08, p < 0.01), and border delineation (4.44 ± 0.80 vs. 3.90 ± 0.78 vs. 2.42 ± 1.13, p < 0.01). Compared to standard 3D and TI renderings of TTE images, the addition of transparency significantly improves both image quality and diagnostic confidence.