What is 3D imaging and what are the benefits?
Medical scanners – such as CT and MRI – generate images of slices through the body. Physicians have to mentally reconstruct the anatomy by looking at several slices in a row. 3D imaging is the process of creating three dimensional images from a set of two dimensional slices. For example, with 2D slices a sphere would look like circles that increase and then decrease in diameter in each slice. An egg shell would look very similar in 2D slices, but computer generated 3D images of a sphere and egg shell surfaces would show the obvious difference. There are several benefits to 3D imaging: 1. It provides an overview of the anatomy – some abnormalities can be easily missed in 2D slices, but are more visible in 3D images. 2. Some procedures such as CT Angiography are practically impossible to do without 3D imaging. 3. It helps in surgical planning – the surgeons can see the anatomy in a familiar way and they can orient themselves better during surgery. 3D imaging provides the best means of de
