3-DIMENSIONAL VASCULAR RECONSTRUCTION WITH A CLINICAL X-RAY ANGIOGRAPHY SYSTEM

Rationale and Objectives. The authors developed a technique to produce high-resolution, three-dimensional images of vasculature from a set o f x-ray projections in an attempt to provide detailed anatomic represe ntations of complex vasculature. Materials and Methods. Projection ima ges were acquired with a clinical angiographic system by using biplana r rotation digital subtraction angiography. The images were reconstruc ted with an additive algebraic reconstruction technique. Results. The feasibility of the technique was tested by reconstructing three-dimens ional images of several phantoms, including a wire phantom and an anat omic flow phantom. The anatomy phantom allowed replication of contrast material flow and image noise that are characteristic of patient exam inations. The reconstruction procedure was then used to examine a caro tid artery and a cerebral aneurysm in two patients. Conclusion. A meth od of reconstructing vasculature from x-ray angiograms has been develo ped and validated with geometric and anatomic phantoms. Preliminary pa tient applications indicate that this technique enables enhanced visua lization of complex vascular relationships and structures.