Which multiplanar reformation technique displays only the maximum pixel value?

The maximum intensity projection (MIP) technique is utilized in imaging to primarily display the highest pixel values from a three-dimensional dataset, effectively highlighting areas of maximum tissue density or contrast, which is particularly useful in visualizing structures like blood vessels or areas of intense pathology. MIP works by casting rays through the volume data and determining the maximum intensity encountered along each ray path, thereby producing a two-dimensional image that retains only the highest values from the three-dimensional space. This characteristic makes it valuable in CT angiography and similar applications where the visibility of high-intensity areas is crucial for accurate diagnosis and assessment.

In contrast, minimum intensity projection focuses on the lowest pixel values, which is often used for visualizing low-density structures like air-filled spaces. Volume rendering combines multiple intensity levels into a single image offering more comprehensive views of complex structures, and cross-sectional imaging refers to obtaining images in a slice format rather than projecting intensities. Thus, MIP is uniquely suited for displaying the maximum intensity values from the dataset, making it the correct choice in this context.