Color Imaging of X-ray CT Data on a Personal Computer and its Clinical Applications

Abstract

The original image data of an X-ray CT scanner (Toshiba TCT-80 A) were decoded and stored into floppy disk files on MS-DOS.
The MS-DOS files were processed with an image processing program on a personal computer (NEC PC-9801 VX 21) and the CT images were reconstructed on a display with sixteen colors. Applications of this color imaging system to several patients have demonstrated that color imaging makes it easier to distinguish lesion and tumor tissues from normal muscular and fatty tissues. Another advantage of this system is that the image data files can readily be used in other departments or hospitals for cooperative treatments.