APPLICATION OF THE VIRTUAL ENDOSCOPY CT IN UROLOGICAL IMAGING ? PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE
Article published in Urologia Polska 2000/53/2.

authors

Andrzej Urbanik ¹, Zygmunt Dobrowolski ², Małgorzata Grotyńska ¹, Robert Chrzan ¹, Leszek Woliński ², Janusz Kosmala ¹

¹ Katedra i Zakład Radiologii CM UJ
p.o. Kierownik Katedry: dr med. A. Urbanik
² Katedra i Klinika Urologii CM UJ
Kierownik Kliniki: doc. dr hab. Z. Dobrowolski

keywords

urinary tract urinary tract imaging virtual endoscopy CT

summary

Progress in Computer tomography and software allows to obtain images

of lumen of the urinary system without classical endoscopy. The techniąue

known as virtual endoscopy is at its first stage of development now and the

authors present the method as well as their own preliminary experiences

related to it.

Material and methods. 31 patients with suspicion of urinary system lesions

have been subjected to the CT exam. The image data obtained in this way were

sent from a working to a satellite station, where the data were processed with

the "endo" software. In result of the processing, three images were received on

the screen of the image station: a 3-D reconstruction, a transverse cross-section

or a front cross-section with a situation of the end of virtual edospcope marked

on it, and a virtual image of the urinary system.

Results. Analysis of several types of images gave an excellent possibility to

make a spacial assessment of the lesions, their identification, grade, situation

and extent. Virtual endoscopy answered all those ąuestions.

Conclusions. Virtual images improved the further treatment and made

radiography more legible. Collaboration between radiologist and urologist

became much better and progression of disease could be precisely established.

The method is very attractive as it is a non-invasive one.

references