Figure 3

A: 3D visualization of an intrahepatic shunt between the distal part of the middle hepatic vein and the right and left hepatic veins. Since both CT images and 3D images are based on the same data set, every volume element (voxel) is uniquely defined in all three dimensions (x-, y- and z-axes). Our operations planning system allows us to identify the exact same voxel in both representations, i.e. in CT scans and 3D visualization. Here, the arrow directs to the yellow dot that is set as the original landmark in the 3D image. B: The crosshairs point to the exact same position as the yellow dot shown in figure 3A, indicating the position of the identical intrahepatic anastomosis in the CT image. One can speculate whether this vessel structure would have been correctly identified as an intravenous anastomosis if only the CT rather than the 3D images had been available.