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Cardiothoracic Image Postprocessing

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Integrated Cardiothoracic Imaging with MDCT

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

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Abstract

Image postprocessing is the use of imaging techniques either to derive additional information from the original axial images of a CT scan or to hide unwanted information that distracts from the clinical findings. The basis for image postprocessing is a three-dimensional image volume, which in most cases consists of a stack of individual axial images. The fundamental three-dimensional unit in this volume is called a “voxel.” Ideally, the spatial resolution of volume image data is high and isotropic, i.e., each voxel is of equal dimensions in all three spatial axes. Isotropic sub-millimeter resolution is the basis for image display in arbitrarily oriented imaging planes and advanced image postprocessing techniques. With the advent of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) and its ongoing refinement, isotropic sub-millimeter voxels can be obtained for the majority of clinical examinations, improving the diagnostic quality of image postprocessing and turning it into a vital component of medical imaging today, in particular for CT angiography (Prokop et al. 1997; Rankin 1999; Addis et al. 2001; Lawler et al. 2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Siemens Healthcare, Computed Tomography, Siemensstrasse 1, 91301, Forchheim, Germany

    Thomas Flohr PhD

  2. Siemens Limited China, Healthcare, Siemens International Medical Park, 278 Zhou Zhu Road, Nanhui District, Shanghai, 201318, P.R. China

    Bernd Ohnesorge PhD

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  1. Thomas Flohr PhD
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  2. Bernd Ohnesorge PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology C.H.R.U. de Lille, Höpital Calmette, Boulevard du Prof. J. Leclercq, 59037, Lille Cédex, France

    Martine Rémy-Jardin MD, PhD (Professor) & Jacques Rémy MD (Professor) (Professor) &  (Professor)

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Flohr, T., Ohnesorge, B. (2009). Cardiothoracic Image Postprocessing. In: Rémy-Jardin, M., Rémy, J. (eds) Integrated Cardiothoracic Imaging with MDCT. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72387-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72387-5_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-72386-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-72387-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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