Our aim was to verify the feasibility of volume rendering (VR) of high-reso
lution magnetic resonance (HR-MR) data sets of the labyrinth. We retrospect
ively reviewed the HR-MR data sets of 16 consecutive patients with no MR ev
idence of labyrinthine pathology. High-resolution MP data sets were obtaine
d by means of a 3D T2-weighted FSE sequence with the use of a 3-in. circula
r surface coil for signal reception, and processed with a high-end workstat
ion. Two reviewers performed separately VR of the labyrinth by selecting th
e signal intensity interval for attribution of opacity and transparency. Co
ncerning the time taken for definition of the volume of interest, the two o
bservers needed, respectively 28.9 and 33.1 min (SD +/- 8.7-9.5 min), where
as the time taken for VR was respectively, 26 and min (SD +/- 8.8-8.9 min).
Concerning the selection of the signal intensity interval, the two observe
rs had, respectively, 86.4 and 88.7 mean lower threshold (SD +/- 34.5-33.5)
, 488.9 and 495.4 mean rer threshold (SD +/- 56.3-53.8). In our experience,
we have found VR of HR-MR to offer a reliable a reproducible technique for
producing 3D representations of the labyrinth. The VR algorithms use data
within the imaging volume and optimize dynamic range ascribed to the object
being visualized.