Three-dimensional reconstruction of the uterine vascular supply through vascular casting and thin slice computed tomography scanning.

It was the objective of this study to construct a model of the uterine vascular supply through vascular casting and thin slice computed tomography scanning. This will provide a teaching aide for the understanding of uterine artery embolization (UAE) procedures, as well as normal uterine and ovarian arterial anatomy. Using 20% chlorinated poly vinyl chloride, we infused and cast a set of a normal uterus, vagina and bilateral adnexa through the uterine artery and ovarian artery. After thin slice CT scanning, we obtained the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction by maximum intensity projection (MIP) and surface-shaded display (SSD), and then observed its figure and characteristics. A model of the uterine vascular supply can be successfully reconstructed by vascular casting and thin slice CT scanning. The 3D reconstruction offers a clear view of the course of the uterine artery and its blood supply distribution. It has two major branches: The intramuscular uterine branch and the cervicovaginal branch (1). Blood supply is generally unilateral, with communicating branches between the two sides and possible anastomoses between the arterial blood supply of the uterus and the ovaries. The major blood supply of the cervix comes from the cervicovaginal branch of the uterine artery, while the vaginal arterial supply derives directly from the internal iliac artery. The CT technique allows real-time 360 degrees rotation and changes in model for in-depth study of the vascular network and its adjacent tissues. It is possible to construct an in vitro uterine arterial network by vascular casting and CT scanning, which can provide unique insight into the female genitourinary system arterial network. Based on this, we can create reconstructions as well as models for different diseases such as leiomyomata, adenomyosis, and endometrial cancer. These models will provide morphological evidence to the interventional therapy and UAE teaching in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[Improvement of specimen sectioning technique for Virtual Chinese Human study].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the image quality of the specimen serial sections for establishing the Virtual Chinese Human dataset and to extend the durability of the milling tools. METHOD: The image quality of the serial sections obtained by using tangential and radial indexable milling tools was compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with radial milling tools, tangential ones were more suitable for use in this study to ensure high-quality section image acquisition, showing the advantages such as high efficiency, long durability and low cost.

[Research report of experimental database establishment of digitized virtual Chinese No.1 female].

OBJECTIVE: To establish digitized virtual Chinese No.1 female (VCH-F1) image database. METHODS: A 19 years old female cadaver was scanned by CT, MRI, and perfused with red filling material through formal artery before freezing and em- bedding. The whole body was cut by JZ1500A vertical milling machine with a 0.2 mm inter-spacing. All the images was produced by Fuji FinePix S2 Pro camera. RESULTS: The body index of VCH-F1 was 94%. We cut 8 556 sections of the whole body, and each image was 17.5 MB in size and the whole database reached 149.7 GB. We have totally 6 versions of the database for different applications. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other databases, VCH-F1 has good representation of the Chinese body shape, colorful filling material in blood vessels providing enough information for future registration and segmentation. Vertical embedding and cutting helped to retain normal human physiological posture, and the image quality and operation efficiency were improved by using various techniques such as one-time freezing and fixation, double-temperature icehouse, large-diameter milling disc and whole body cutting.

Construction of dataset for Virtual Chinese Male No.1.

OBJECTIVE: To establish digitized Virtual Chinese Human Male No.1 (VCH-M1) image dataset with a 0.2-mm equal interval. METHODS: The body of a 24-year-old male was used for this study. Perfusion with phenol and vermilion of the arteries was performed, followed by body shape adjustment by cold saline and pre-embedding with broken ices in an upside-down position, which was completed in a stepwise procedure to minimize body shape deformation. Section milling was conducted subsequently with the section thickness of 2 mm and the section images were captured by digital camera, which were immediately transferred to a computer for storage and processing. RESULTS: A total of 9 232 sections were obtained for the whole body, and the resolution of each of the image in TIF format was 3 024x2 016 pixels, resulting in the size of approximately 18 M for each image and about 161 G for the whole dataset. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with VCH-F1, the image quality in VCH-M1 dataset is significantly improved, demonstrated by much clearer tissue boundary in the images and minimized body shape deformation during the embedding process.

[Study of three-dimensional computerized reconstruction and CT scanning with thin slice after filling hepatic duct system].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the modal of perfusing and casting in hepatic duct system and explore the methods of three dimensional reconstruction with CT scanning image after filling hepatic duct. METHODS: All canal of livers with integral porta hepatic were perfused with various filling material after pretreatment, then fixed and casted. Hepatic preparations that had been perfused were put into the model of modelling abdominal cavity and scanned with thin slice. The three dimensional duct structures of hepatic with three methods of MIP, SSD and computerized treatment. RESULTS: Fourteen hepatic samples were filled and casted. Nine hepatic samples were scanned with slice height 1.0 mm, all 2514 slice images and average 279 images. Five hepatic samples were scanned with slice height 3.0 mm, all 512 slice images and average 102 images. Intrahepatic vein and portal vein system of three dimensional reconstruction were seen clearly with MIP method. The three dimensional established three dimensional images with SSD method was shown much stronger than that of MIP method. The three dimensional images of hepatic solid and hepatic vein system were established with method of comperized treatment. Vary three dimensional shape of hepatic solid and hepatic vein was obtained through different direction rotational. CONCLUSIONS: The modal filled and casted hepatic duct system were practise. The images established three dimensional with methods of MIP, SSD and comperized treatment were seen clearly. The modal and images of thin slice CT scanning are a better method for researching hepatic duct system.

[Study of three-dimensional reconstruction of digitized virtual hepatic images].

OBJECTIVE: To study the methods of three-dimensional reconstruction of digitized virtual hepatic. METHODS: Images of DSCF 2511-2520 were taken from the database of digitized Virtual Chinese Human female No. 1 (VCH-F1). Method of insertion value algorithm of three-dimensional reconstruction was used to make three-dimensional block diagram. In ordering to auto-judge the position of hepatic solid and hepatic ducts, these images were shown with different colors according to the character of color and location of every spot. RESULTS: Stereo image of hepatic solid could be shown satisfactorily. Every shape of stereo image and the structure of hepatic duct could be shown by revolving the three-dimensional image with different direction. CONCLUSIONS: The image of hepatic database of digitized Virtual Chinese female No. 1 was exact. The three-dimensional image of the liver and hepatic duct made by insertion value algorithm of three-dimensional reconstruction were distinct, and it was a ideal method of three-dimensional reconstruction.