Premium
Three‐dimensional Gray Scale Volume Rendering of the Liver
Author(s) -
Xu HuiXiong,
Lu MingDe,
Zhou YuQing,
Zhang QingPing,
Yin XiaoYu,
Xie XiaoYan,
Liu Li
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2002.21.9.961
Subject(s) - medicine , volume rendering , radiology , rendering (computer graphics) , ascites , artificial intelligence , computer science
Objective. To investigate the potential clinical usefulness of three‐dimensional gray scale volume rendering in the liver. Methods. Sixty‐two patients were enrolled in the study and categorized into 2 groups: group I with ascites and group II without. Two types of volume‐rendering modes, i.e., surface and transparent, were used to obtain the three‐dimensional images. The data were reviewed to identify the differences between two‐ and three‐dimensional images of the liver in each subject. Results. In group I, three‐dimensional sonography was superior to two‐dimensional sonography in terms of surface features, edges, overall three‐dimensional impression, image clarity, and structural relationships. However, it seemed that three‐dimensional sonography in the surface mode was inferior to two‐dimensional sonography in showing intrahepatic structures, because it had decreased resolution. In group II, three‐dimensional sonography was superior to two‐dimensional sonography with respect to the continuity of intrahepatic vessels, overall three‐dimensional impression of the vessels, image clarity, and the relationship between lesions and neighboring vessels. However, the resolution of the lesions was decreased in 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions. Our experience suggests that three‐dimensional gray scale volume rendering of the liver provides more diagnostic information than two‐dimensional sonography; however, further studies are needed to evaluate its clinical importance.