Three dimensional reconstruction of cross sectional intracoronary ultrasound: clinical or research tool?

Correspondence to: Dr J RT C Roelandt, Division of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter BD 408, University Hospital Dijkzigt, PO Box 1738 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In a recent survey conducted in 30 centres with large experience in intracoronary ultrasound, three dimensional reconstruction of intracoronary ultrasound was ranked as the technical development with the lowest priority,' suggesting that it is perceived by most users of intracoronary ultrasound as a research tool with limited clinical relevance. However, although cross sectional ultrasound provides unique information on lumen and wall pathology, it cannot determine the spatial relationships among multiple ultrasonic cross sections. The need to examine vessel architecture longitudinally explains the many efforts to develop methods of three dimensional reconstruction of intracoronary ultrasound images.2 3 In this paper we present the steps required for three dimensional reconstruction of intracoronary images and the methods of display and quantitative analysis. Limitations of the technique and its current and future clinical potential are discussed.