Three-dimensional reconstruction of human diaphragm with the use of spiral computed tomography

Pettiaux, Nicolas, Marie Cassart, Manuel Paiva, and MarcEstenne. Three-dimensional reconstruction of human diaphragm withthe use of spiral computed tomography. J. Appl.Physiol. 82(3): 998-1002, 1997.We developed atechnique of diaphragm imaging by using spiral computed tomography, andwe studied four normal subjects who had been previously investigatedwith magnetic resonance imaging (A. P. Gauthier, S. Verbanck,M. Estenne, C. Segebarth, P. T. Macklem, and M. Paiva.J. Appl. Physiol. 76: 495-506,1994). One acquisition of 15- to 25-s duration was performed atresidual volume, functional residual capacity, functional residualcapacity plus one-half inspiratory capacity, and total lung capacitywith the subject holding his breath and relaxing. From theseacquisitions, 20 coronal and 30 sagittal images were reconstructed ateach lung volume; on each image, diaphragm contour in the zone ofapposition and in the dome was digitized with the software Osiris, andthe digitized silhouettes were used for three-dimensionalreconstruction with Matlab. Values of length and surface area for thediaphragm, the dome, and the zone of apposition were very similar tothose obtained with magnetic resonance imaging. We conclude thatsatisfactory three-dimensional reconstruction of the in vivo diaphragmmay be obtained with spiral computed tomography, allowing accurate measurements of muscle length, surface area, and shape.