Registration of a reconstructed arteriovenous malformation (AVM) volume within a magnetic resonance (MR) volume

The embolization of a cerebral AVM is a delicate operation which requires the complete 3D understanding of the surrounding brain area. The evaluation of the micro catheter position in relation to the healthy brain tissues is crucial before the embolization. We have developed a software prototype on a SUN platform aiming to guide the radiologist during the operation. This prototype constructs a volume from AVM 2D angiographic images and combines it with a MR volume. To reconstruct the AVM volume we use three angiographic images taken 45 degrees apart around the same axis. Finally, merging with the MR volume is accomplished using anatomical references from the nonsubtracted angiographic images and from selected slices of the MR volume