GIR is a new technique now available for the 3-D reconstruction of CT volumetric data. It provides photorealistic images, by simulating the complete interactions of light photons with a scanned object. The aim of this work is to compare overall image quality of GIR images with conventional VR images in the depiction of coronary arteries and thoraco-abdominal aorta.

Volumetric data from 20 coronary CT angiography (CCTA) examinations and 20 thoraco-abdominal aorta CT angiography examinations (TAA -CTA) were used to generate VR and GIR images. Notably, CT volumetric data were drawn from: 16 patients with post operative aorta; 3 patients with aortic aneurysm; 1 patient with type b aortic dissection; 3 patients with CABG; 4 patients with coronary aneurism and/or ectasia; 5 patients with coronary anomaly; 4 patients with coronary stent; 4 patients with coronary artery stenosis. All CCTA and TAA-CTA examinations were performed...

Overall image quality scores were significantly better on GIR than VR images (median scores: GIR = 4 vs VR = 3, p < 0.01) [Table 1], [Table 2] Several examples of GIR and VR images are shown below: [Fig 1] [Fig 2] [Fig 3] [Fig 4][Fig 5] [Fig 6] [Fig 7] [Fig 8] [Fig 9] [Fig 10] [Fig 11] [Fig 12] [Fig 13] [Fig 14] [Fig 15] [Fig 16] [Fig 17] [Fig 18] [Fig 19] [Fig 20] [Fig 21] [Fig 22] [Fig 23] [Fig 24]...

GIR has been widely used in movies, video games, lighting engineering and flight simulators but has only recently been adopted in medical imaging. GIR is superior to the conventional volume rendering (VR) technique. Actually, in VR each pixel is formed by one light ray. Conversely, in GIR each pixel results from the simulation of the interaction of billions of light rays - propagating from multiple light sources - with a scanned object. In other words, GIR mimics the real-life propagation, absorption, scattering of light and...

M. Finazzo: Nothing to disclose F. Finazzo: Nothing to disclose C. Duranti: Nothing to disclose A. Dell'Era: Investigator: Canon Medical Systems Italy F. Pinto: Investigator: Canon Medical Systems Italy D. Messana: Nothing to disclose

Fukumoto W, Kitera N, Mitani H, Sueoka T, Kondo S, Kawashita I, Nakamura Y, Nagao M, Awai K. Global illumination rendering versus volume rendering for the forensic evaluation of stab wounds using computed tomography. Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 14;12(1):2452. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06541-9. PMID: 35165357; PMCID: PMC8844357. Blum A, Gillet R, Rauch A, Urbaneja A, Biouichi H, Dodin G, Germain E, Lombard C, Jaquet P, Louis M, Simon L, Gondim Teixeira P. 3D reconstructions, 4D imaging and postprocessing with CT in musculoskeletal disorders: Past, present and future....