ABSTRACT
Cinematic rendering (CR) is a new 3D post-processing technology widely used to produce bone computed tomography (CT) images. This study aimed to evaluate the performance quality of CR in bone CT images using blind quality and noise level evaluations. Bone CT images of the face, shoulder, lumbar spine, and wrist were acquired. Volume rendering (VR), which is widely used in the field of diagnostic medical imaging, was additionally set along with CR. A no-reference-based blind/referenceless image spatial quality evaluator (BRISQUE) and coefficient of variation (COV) were used to evaluate the overall quality of the acquired images. The average BRISQUE values derived from the four areas were 39.87 and 46.44 in CR and VR, respectively. The difference between the two values was approximately 1.16, and the difference between the resulting values increased, particularly in the bone CT image, where metal artifacts were observed. In addition, we confirmed that the COV value improved by 2.20 times on average when using CR compared to VR. This study proved that CR is useful in reconstructing bone CT 3D images and that various applications in the diagnostic medical field will be possible.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was evaluated to find out meaning of patellofemoral alignment related to anterior knee pain using computed tomographic image. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study include 32 cases, 21 persons as a patient group which had been treated due to anterior knee pain related to tight lateral retinaculum from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 1999 and 36 cases, 18 persons as a control group which had no history of anterior knee pain and no abnormal finding malalignment by physical examination. Patellofemoral alignment was evaluated by measuring sulcus angle, congruence angle and lateral patellofemoral angle using computed tomographic images in 0 degrees and 20 degrees knee flexion patellofemoral alignment of the patient group was compared with that of the control group statistically. All 32 cases of the patient group had an arthroscopic lateral release and the patellofemoral alignment was rechecked on computed tomographic images. RESULTS: There was statistically difference between the average measurement of patient group and that of the control group on the computed tomographic images in 0degree and 20degree flexion of the knee. Also the average measurement after lateral release in patient group was corrected significantly. CONCLUSION: Laterally aligned patella during 0 degrees and 20 degrees knee flexion in computed tomographic should not be considered as normal variation but as pathologic condition related to anterior knee pain.