3D assessment of myocardial perfusion parameter combined with 3D reconstructed coronary artery tree from digital coronary angiograms.

In patients with coronary artery disease coronary angiography plays an important role in the clinical decision-making process. However, it has been recognized that no simple relation exists between the visually or quantitatively evaluated severity of coronary artery stenoses and its effects on regional myocardial perfusion. This paper describes for the first time the development and application of a 3D technique that visualizes and quantifies regional myocardial perfusion parameters from biplane coronary angiograms by using the impulse response analysis technique. The 3D reconstructed coronary tree is automatically superimposed on the 3D perfusion image to generate and visualize an 'integrated' 3D image. The preliminary results in patients with critical coronary artery stenoses indicate that our combined 3D fusion image provides flow information from the major coronary arteries. This 3D fusion image may provide useful information in the management of patients with coronary artery disease.