Medial axis reformation: A new visualization method for CT angiography

Rationale and Objectives. The authors performed this study to evaluate a ne w method (medial axis reformation [MAR] for visualizing three-dimensional v ascular data at electron-beam computed tomographic (CT) angiography. Materials and Methods. MAR was performed automatically with a personal comp uter-based workstation. After the region of interest was edited, voxels wer e divided into groups according to their path lengths. Centroids of groups were connected to form the medial axis. Then, the medial axis was refined w ith multiscale medial response. Bifurcations were also detected and refined . Finally, curved sections were generated through the branches and laid out onto a single image by using a splitting method. The authors performed MAR during electron-beam CT angiography of coronary arteries, common carotid a rteries, and iliac arteries. Results. MAR displayed curved sections of branched vessels on one image, cu t through the axis of vessels to show the vessel diameter objectively, and allowed the viewing direction to be altered arbitrarily. Conclusion. Results of preliminary applications demonstrate that MAR is a v aluable new visualization method for CT angiography.