Cone Beam - What Cone Beam means

The term Cone Beam means exactly what it says.
Cone Beam radiological device emits x-ray beams that have a conical shape as opposed to the fan-shaped beams emitted in conventional computed tomography (CT or MSCT) scanning.

The conical beam passes through the patient and strikes an image intensifier panel (CCD). The diameter of the cone varies from a few centimeters to about 30 centimeters and in just one circuit around the patient’s head can capture several hundred base images. These images are processed by computer and converted into a volume (volumetric CT) based on the voxel (3D pixel).The smaller the voxel, the better the image definition. From the volume we can extract all the information we need with the best possible distortion-free orientation. The voxel in effect is isotropic, i.e. its width, depth and height are all equal.


Apart from purely technical issues that are perhaps not easily understood by non-specialised readers, I will use a simple example to hopefully explain what a volumetric image is and how it can be of great use not to mention its diagnostic potential.

An image can be flat, 2D i.e.(with just two dimensions: width and height) or can be in three-dimensions , 3D, i.e. (width - height - depth). Continues on the book: Atlas of Cone Beam - Volumetric 3D Images - Edizioni BDD. ISBN 978-88-905818-6-1