You want to use 3D imaging to display an anatomic structure because 3D has the following advantage over 2D imaging?

• A. Higher frame rates
• B. Better spatial resolution
• C. Ability to display image planes impossible to obtain with 2D imaging
• D. Ability to display orthogonal planes simultaneously

Answer: (C)

3D imaging gives you volumetric data that you can reformat into any plane after the scan. The key advantage over 2D imaging is the ability to display image planes that 2D cannot directly capture—oblique, curved, or otherwise oriented views that show how structures relate in space. With 2D imaging you’re limited to the slices that were acquired, and you can’t freely reorient them to reveal anatomy from new viewpoints. This capability—multiplanar reformats and views of planes not obtainable in a single 2D dataset—lets you inspect anatomy from perspectives that simply aren’t possible with fixed 2D slices. The other options aren’t universal benefits: frame rate and spatial resolution depend on the specific modality and settings, and while you can view orthogonal planes, the fundamental strength is the access to planes that 2D imaging can’t produce.