Three-dimensional vascular reconstruction with a clinical x-ray angiography system

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: The authors developed a technique to produce high-resolution, three-dimensional images of vasculature from a set of x-ray projections in an attempt to provide detailed anatomic representations of complex vasculature.

Materials and methods: Projection images were acquired with a clinical angiographic system by using biplanar rotational digital subtraction angiography. The images were reconstructed with an additive algebraic reconstruction technique.

Results: The feasibility of the technique was tested by reconstructing three-dimensional images of several phantoms, including a wire phantom and an anatomic flow phantom. The anatomic phantom allowed replication of contrast material flow and image noise that are characteristic of patient examinations. The reconstruction procedure was then used to examine a carotid artery and a cerebral aneurysm in two patients.

Conclusion: A method of reconstructing vasculature from x-ray angiograms has been developed and validated with geometric and anatomic phantoms. Preliminary patient applications indicate that this technique enables enhanced visualization of complex vascular relationships and structures.