Elliot K. Fishman MD FACR
Professor of Radiology, Oncology, Surgery and Urology
Johns Hopkins Hospital

“ Scientific Visualization is concerned with exploring data and information in such a way as to gain understanding and insight into the data. The goal of scientific visualization is to promote a deeper level of understanding of the data under investigation and to foster new insight into the underlying processes, relying on the humans' powerful ability to visualize.” 
Scientific Visualization, Techniques and Applications,R.A. Earnshaw (1992)

“Visualization is the process of transforming information into a visual form, enabling users to observe the information. The resulting visual display enables the scientist or engineer to perceive visually features which are hidden in the data but nevertheless are needed for data exploration and analysis.”
N. Gershon, From Perception to Visualization (1994)

“ Volumetric rendering differs from surface rendering in that all the information from the CT scans is preserved, not just surface boundaries. Object thickness and internal contours can be seen in the 3D projection.”
Volumetric Rendering Technique: Applications for Three-dimensional Imaging of the Hip
Fishman EK, Drebin RA, Ney DR et al.
Radiology 1987 Jun;163(3):737-738

“ Server side rendering and processing allows manipulation of images to be done where the information is stored. The image currently being viewed on the devise is the only one that is stored at that point in time. Because there is minimal information on the devise at any given time, the method of viewing radiology images is the most secure.”
Cybersecurity in Radiology: Access of Public Hot Spots and Public Wi-Fi and Prevention of Cybercrimes and HIPAA Violations
Gerard P et al.
AJR 2013; 201:1186-1189

“ 3D imaging is becoming a valuable tool for both diagnostic and therapeutic display of digital information.”“ As radiology enters the 1990’s we predict that one of the major achievements of this decade will be the widespread diffusion of the technology of computed image processing into the medical community.”
Three-Dimensional Imaging: State of the Art
Fishman EK et al.
Radiology 1991;181:321-337

“ Radiologists much embrace this paradigm shift from traditional axial slices to primary 3D volume visualization in order to efficiently and comprehensively review large datasets and ultimately improve patient care. We predict that within a few years, 3D CT imaging will no longer be a specialized study done on select patients, but will also be a part of review of routine cases as well.”
Fishman EK et al.
RadioGraphics 2006 May-June;26(3);905-922

“Postprocessing of computed tomography data is thus no longer an option, but a true requirement in this era of 64-row multidetector computed tomography and beyond.”
Computed Tomography Dataset Postprocessing: From Data to Knowledge
Johnson PT, Fishman EK
Mt Sinai J Med 2012 May;79(3);412-21

• there are two classes of rendering techniques

• • thresholding or surface based (binary) techniques
• • percentage or semitransparent (continuum) volume based techniques

“Although these routine CT examinations may be diagnostic for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, they are inadequate for disease extent assessment given the lack of optimal multiphasic enhancement and use of thicker slice selection. These factors limit the ability to generate high quality reformatted images and 3D reconstructions that are often necessary for accurate staging. It is therefore essential that these patients undergo MDCT angiogram using a dedicated pancreatic protocol.”
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Radiology Reporting Template: Consensus Statement of the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR), and the American Pancreatic Association (APA)
Al-Hawary MH, Francis IR, Chari ST, Fishman EK et al.
Radiology 2014;270:248-260

CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that VRT and axial images produce almost identical values of CI, with the advantages of greater ease of execution and a time saving of almost 50% for 3D VRT images. In addition, VRT provides an integrated perspective that can better assist surgeons in clinical decision making and in operative planning, suggesting this technique as a possible standard method for CI measurement.
Value of three-dimensional volume rendering images in the assessment of the centrality index for preoperative planning in patients with renal masses.
Sofia C et al
Clin Radiol 2017 Jan;72(1):33-40.

“ The genetic makeup of clear cell RCCs (ccRCCs) affects their imaging features at multidetector CT examinations. Multidetector CT imaging characteristics may help suggest differences at the cytogenetic level among ccRCCs.”
Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Multiphasic Multidetector CT Imaging Features Help Predict Genetic Karyotypes
Sauk SC et al.
Radiology 2011; 261:854-862

“ In our experience, proper utilization of a 3D technique can be incredibly useful in the diagnosis of subtle tumors that are barely perceptible on the source axial images and that may be missed otherwise.”
MDCT Evaluation of Ureteral Tumors: Advantages of 3D Reconstruction and Volume Visualization
Raman SP, Horton KM, Fishman EK
AJR 2013; 201;1239-1247