Volume rendering in head MRA: discrimination of aneurysms by low-threshold processing

Abstract

When processing head MRA images, threshold values are automatically established using the MIP method, resulting in a high degree of reproducibility. As a result, two different individuals can produce highly comparable images. In addition, the MIP method is reportedly effective for depicting fine vessels. However, since information other than maximum values is ignored by the MIP method, data contained in original MRA images are not optimally utilized. The results confirmed that much of the information contained in original MRA images could not be seen on MIP processed images. In many cases, low-threshold processing was useful for depicting fine vessels and arterioles that could not be seen on MIP-processed images.