CT angiography of the circle of Willis and intracranial internal carotid arteries: maximum intensity projection with matched mask bone elimination-feasibility study.

Abstract

Results are reported of a feasibility study in which bone pixels are eliminated from computed tomographic (CT) angiographic images with a method that enables the construction of maximum intensity projection (MIP) images without interference by bone. The method proved to be successful in six patients. Two observers blinded to the bone elimination method judged the image quality of MIP images to be considerably higher than that of standard subtraction MIP images. This method is an effective means to remove bone from CT angiographic images with only a slight increase in radiation dose.