III. New developments: 2. Virtual MR endoscopy in the central nervous system

Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) data acquisition and postprocessi ng technologies have been playing a important role in widening the potentia l applications of 3D display. The authors described new applications of a v irtual endoscopic algorithm for 3D display of high resolution MR images: (a l intracranial intravascular virtual MR endoscopy using the 3D fast imaging with steady state precession (FISP) sequence, and Ib) virtual MR endoscopy of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces using the constructive interferenc e in steady state (CISS) three-dimensional Fourier transform (3DFT) sequenc e. The virtual endoscopic images were displayed with use of a commercially available perspective volume-rendering algorithm, Our initial experience sh owed that virtual MR endoscopy can be performed to observe the intracranial arteries and CSF spaces from the viewpoints within themselves. Although th e clinical use of the intracranial virtual MR endoscopy has not been establ ished yet, the images obtained are very attractive and further investigatio ns in this held will be expected.