Abstract: A coronary arteries tree is approximated by a base sphere (32) which is best fitted to vessels centerlines (38). The base surface (32) is gridded to define pixels (52). The base sphere (32) is mapped to fit the centerlines (38) such that a true form surface (56) is determined. A wall thickness to the true form surface (56) is defined, preferably, by a user. A normal of each pixel (52) is searched for grayscale values of voxels. Each pixel (52) is assigned a maximum of grayscale values of voxels within the defined wall thickness intersected by the corresponding normal. The resulting true form surface is undistorted mode of visualization revealing the arteries tree in its context running on the true surface drawn through the vessels. Mapping the assigned grayscale values onto the base sphere (32) visualizes arteries tree on a globe surface (84) which might be rotatably inspected as a globe. Mapping the assigned grayscale values into a flat surface visualizes arteries tree on a two-dimensional map.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging apparatus generates a three-dimensional diagnostic image representation. The image representation is converted into an image representation of the patient's heart. A left lower posterior point of the heart image representation is selected as a first approximation of a left ventricle apex and a line of preselected orientation is drawn through the first approximation apex as a first approximation ventricle axis. The ventricle axis is redefined by generating short axis slices across the approximated ventricle axis, isolating a selected one of the ventricles, determining a centroid of each short axis slice of the selected ventricle, and fitting the axis to the apex approximation and the centroids. The apex location is redefined by looking for the lowermost short axis slice orthogonal to the redefined axis which intersects the ventricle volume and selecting the intersection point as the next approximation of the apex.