Tracheobronchial tree: assessment with volume rendering--technical aspects.

A volume-rendering technique was applied at the level of normal airways. Two spiral computed tomographic data sets (central and peripheral bronchi) were selected to evaluate the influence of the technique parameters. Optimal bronchogram-like images were obtained with a continuous rim of peripheral voxels, a 70% opacity value, and the unshaded algorithm. Volume rendering allows creation of airway reconstructions that are very similar to conventional bronchograms.