MDCT Evaluation of Ureteral Tumors: Advantages of 3D Reconstruction and Volume Visualization

Abstract

The ureters can be problematic to evaluate on CT, partly because of difficulties in obtaining adequate ureteral distention and opacification. Proper diagnosis hinges not only on appropriate interpretation of the axial images but also on the utilization of a 3D technique (volume rendering or maximum intensity projection) as an ancillary tool.

Ectopic insertion of a duplicated ureter into prostatic urethra: Demonstration by 3D multi-detector computed tomography urography

“…Volume rendering is the visualization and manipulation of objects represented as sampled data in three or more dimensions [1]. The maximum intensity projection technique displays the pixels of greatest intensity along a predefined axis of the image [1,13].…”

“…Volume rendering is the visualization and manipulation of objects represented as sampled data in three or more dimensions [1]. The maximum intensity projection technique displays the pixels of greatest intensity along a predefined axis of the image [1,13]. The detail information is useful for the depiction of urinary tract anatomy when there is a large difference between attenuation values of urinary tract opacified by contrast agent, and the surrounding tissues [12,14].…”

“…MDCT urography with 3D imaging techniques can improve temporal and spatial resolutions of the latest CT scanners and be able to acquire isotropic datasets with identical resolutions in all three planes. It provides results that are equivalent, and almost certainly superior, to those of conventional excretory urography in the evaluation of the upper urinary tracts for transitional cell carcinoma [1]. Herein, we present a young male patient with ectopic insertion of a duplicated ureter was diagnosed by MDCT urography.…”

“…However, the challenge in the diagnosis of ectopic insertion of the ureter usually is to identify its insertion, particularly when the affected ureter is not dilated. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) urography with nonionic iodinated contrast media delineates the ureteric course in the normal functioning kidney in the excretory phase [1]. This report presented a young male patient with ectopic insertion of a duplicated ureter diagnosed by MDCT urography.…”

“…This report presented a young male patient with ectopic insertion of a duplicated ureter diagnosed by MDCT urography. Three-dimensional (3D) analysis technology, such as volume rendering (with a color display improving the visualization of complex anatomy and 3D relationships) and maximum intensity projection (similar in principle to projection angiography), is useful for the illustration of urinary tract anatomy [1]. Rotated volume rendering reconstruction images and continual thinner maximum intensity projection reformatted images can be viewed as videos, which provides detail delineation of the ectopic ureteral insertion and its associated ureteral duplication.…”