Abstract
We have applied high-quality medical imaging techniques to study the structure of the human ankle. Direct volume rendering, using specific algorithms, transforms conventional two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance image (MRI) series into 3D volume datasets. This tool allows high-definition visualization of single or multiple structures for diagnostic, research, and teaching purposes. No other image reformatting technique so accurately highlights each anatomic relationship and preserves soft tissue definition. Here, we used this method to study the structure of the human ankle to analyze tendon-bone-muscle relationships. We compared ankle MRI and computerized tomography (CT) images from 17 healthy volunteers, aged 18-30 years (mean 23 years). An additional subject had a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon. The MRI images demonstrated superiority in overall quality of detail compared to the CT images. The MRI series accurately rendered soft tissue and bone in simultaneous image acquisition, whereas CT required several window-reformatting algorithms, with loss of image data quality. We obtained high-quality digital images of the human ankle that were sufficiently accurate for surgical and clinical intervention planning, as well as for teaching human anatomy. Our approach demonstrates that complex anatomical structures such as the ankle, which is rich in articular facets and ligaments, can be easily studied non-invasively using MRI data.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 592-599 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Anatomy |
| Volume | 215 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2009 |
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Keywords
- Ankle
- MRI
- Volume rendering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Histology
- Developmental Biology
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Cite this
Three-dimensional volume rendering of the ankle based on magnetic resonance images enables the generation of images comparable to real anatomy. / Anastasi, Giuseppe; Cutroneo, Giuseppina; Bruschetta, Daniele; Trimarchi, Fabio; Ielitro, Giuseppe; Cammaroto, Simona; Duca, Antonio; Bramanti, Placido; Favaloro, Angelo; Vaccarino, Gianluigi; Milardi, Demetrio.
In: Journal of Anatomy, Vol. 215, No. 5, 11.2009, p. 592-599.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Three-dimensional volume rendering of the ankle based on magnetic resonance images enables the generation of images comparable to real anatomy
AU - Anastasi, Giuseppe
AU - Cutroneo, Giuseppina
AU - Bruschetta, Daniele
AU - Trimarchi, Fabio
AU - Ielitro, Giuseppe
AU - Cammaroto, Simona
AU - Duca, Antonio
AU - Bramanti, Placido
AU - Favaloro, Angelo
AU - Vaccarino, Gianluigi
AU - Milardi, Demetrio
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - We have applied high-quality medical imaging techniques to study the structure of the human ankle. Direct volume rendering, using specific algorithms, transforms conventional two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance image (MRI) series into 3D volume datasets. This tool allows high-definition visualization of single or multiple structures for diagnostic, research, and teaching purposes. No other image reformatting technique so accurately highlights each anatomic relationship and preserves soft tissue definition. Here, we used this method to study the structure of the human ankle to analyze tendon-bone-muscle relationships. We compared ankle MRI and computerized tomography (CT) images from 17 healthy volunteers, aged 18-30 years (mean 23 years). An additional subject had a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon. The MRI images demonstrated superiority in overall quality of detail compared to the CT images. The MRI series accurately rendered soft tissue and bone in simultaneous image acquisition, whereas CT required several window-reformatting algorithms, with loss of image data quality. We obtained high-quality digital images of the human ankle that were sufficiently accurate for surgical and clinical intervention planning, as well as for teaching human anatomy. Our approach demonstrates that complex anatomical structures such as the ankle, which is rich in articular facets and ligaments, can be easily studied non-invasively using MRI data.
AB - We have applied high-quality medical imaging techniques to study the structure of the human ankle. Direct volume rendering, using specific algorithms, transforms conventional two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance image (MRI) series into 3D volume datasets. This tool allows high-definition visualization of single or multiple structures for diagnostic, research, and teaching purposes. No other image reformatting technique so accurately highlights each anatomic relationship and preserves soft tissue definition. Here, we used this method to study the structure of the human ankle to analyze tendon-bone-muscle relationships. We compared ankle MRI and computerized tomography (CT) images from 17 healthy volunteers, aged 18-30 years (mean 23 years). An additional subject had a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon. The MRI images demonstrated superiority in overall quality of detail compared to the CT images. The MRI series accurately rendered soft tissue and bone in simultaneous image acquisition, whereas CT required several window-reformatting algorithms, with loss of image data quality. We obtained high-quality digital images of the human ankle that were sufficiently accurate for surgical and clinical intervention planning, as well as for teaching human anatomy. Our approach demonstrates that complex anatomical structures such as the ankle, which is rich in articular facets and ligaments, can be easily studied non-invasively using MRI data.
KW - Ankle
KW - MRI
KW - Volume rendering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71049154041&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=71049154041&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01133.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01133.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19678857
AN - SCOPUS:71049154041
VL - 215
SP - 592
EP - 599
JO - Journal of Anatomy
JF - Journal of Anatomy
SN - 0021-8782
IS - 5
ER -