Volume rendering techniques for tracheobronchial tree imaging

Three-dimensional images of the tracheobronchial tree with use of volume re ndering techniques (VRT) were obtained from the CT data sets of 8 patients. We compared the imaging reliability of the method with conventional CT and bronchoscopy. The application of VRT in CT revealed in greater detail the anatomy and morphology of the tracheobronchial tree compared to conventiona l transverse CT. VRT images were in keeping to bronchoscopic findings. VRT could be the method of choice for the evaluation of tracheal and major bron chi anomalies for those patients who could not tolerate bronchoscopy.