"Soap-Bubble" visualization and quantitative analysis of 3D coronary magnetic resonance angiograms

Alex Etienne, René M. Botnar, Arianne M.C. Van Muiswinkel, Peter Boesiger, Warren J. Manning, Matthias Stuber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

218 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to compare coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) data obtained with different scanning methodologies, adequate visualization and presentation of the coronary MRA data need to be ensured. Furthermore, an objective quantitative comparison between images acquired with different scanning methods is desirable. To address this need, a software tool ("Soap-Bubble") that facilitates visualization and quantitative comparison of 3D volume targeted coronary MRA data was developed. In the present implementation, the user interactively specifies a curved subvolume (enclosed in the 3D coronary MRA data set) that closely encompasses the coronary arterial segments. With a 3D Delaunay triangulation and a parallel projection, this enables the simultaneous display of multiple coronary segments in one 2D representation. For objective quantitative analysis, frequently explored quantitative parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR); and vessel length, sharpness, and diameter can be assessed. The present tool supports visualization and objective, quantitative comparisons of coronary MRA data obtained with different scanning methods. The first results obtained in healthy adults and in patients with coronary artery disease are presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)658-666
Number of pages9
JournalMagnetic resonance in medicine
Volume48
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Analysis package
  • Coronary MRA
  • Coronary angiography
  • Postprocessing
  • Quantitative angiography
  • Quantitative coronary analysis
  • Reformatting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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