A study on evaluation of 3D virtual rabbit kidney models by multidetector computed tomography images

Abstract

Objectives: This study was performed to reveal biometric peculiarities of New Zealand rabbit kidneys by means of threedimensional (3D) reconstruction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images.

Methods: Under general anaesthesia, the kidneys of eight rabbits of both sexes were scanned by high resolution imaging using a general diagnostic MDCT. The thoracic and lumbar vertebrae of the rabbit were used as reference structure to locate exact position of the kidneys in the rabbit body. Finally, landmarks of the kidneys were identified and labelled in the MDCT images and then 3D models were formed to analyse the locations, dimensions and volumes of the kidneys with respect to the vertebral column in transparently modelled body.

Results: The left and right kidney volumes are 9153.3 mm3 and 9761 mm3 respectively. The right kidney is approximately 9% longer, 22% wider and 27% thicker than the left kidney. The left kidney is 16% flatter than the right one.

Conclusion: The authors have proposed that the 3D reconstructed results of the MDCT images can contribute to the anatomical education and clinical applications.

Keywords

• CT imaging
• three-dimensional reconstruction
• morphometry
• kidney
• rabbit