Cinematic rendering enhancements to virtual bronchoscopy: assessment of emergent tracheal pathology.

Utilizing complex lighting models, cinematic rendering is a novel technique for demonstrating computed tomography data with exquisite 3D anatomic detail. The tracheal lumen, tracheal wall, and adjacent soft tissue structures are represented with photorealistic detail exceeding that of conventional volume rendering or virtual bronchoscopy techniques. We applied cinematic rendering to a spectrum of emergent tracheal pathologies: traumatic tracheal tears, tracheoesophageal fistulas, tracheal foreign bodies, tracheal stenosis (intrinsic and extrinsic causes), tracheal neoplasms, and tracheomalacia. Cinematic rendering images enable visually accessible evaluation and comprehensive understanding of acute tracheal pathology, which is likely to be of value to both interventional pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons who are determining patient treatment plans.