Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Virtual endoscopy can fully display the anatomy form and pathological changes of the colon at both ends of stenosis and obstruction sites. Combined with three-dimensional (3D) images, we can also understand the conditions of the bowel wall and external cavity, which is more advantageous to the qualitative and stage diagnosis of tumors.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application value of virtual technology based on 64-slice CT angiography (CTA) images, 64-slice CT 3D imaging and virtual endoscopy in the diagnosis of colon tumors.
METHODS: Philips/Brilliance 64 CT volumetric scanning was performed in 10 patients with colonic diseases confirmed based on postoperative pathological specimens, including 8 cases of colon tumors and 2 of colonic polypi. Mimics software was used for the surface rendering of the intestine with the Marching Cubes algorithm followed by virtual endoscope 3D reconstruction, and 3D reconstruction of the large intestine and surrounding tissues was done using the Mimics software based on the CTA two-dimensional images. The reconstructed 3D models were compared with 3D images and virtual endoscopy results obtained in the Brilliance workspace.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Satisfied results were achieved from 3D images of 10 patients, and there were no significant differences between the findings of virtual endoscopy and CT virtual endoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy combined with multi-structure digital model reconstruction could provide more information, which was helpful to accurately locate the lesion position and could precisely show complex anatomical structures and spatial adjacent relations. Virtual technologies based on 64-slice CTA images nearly have the same sensitivity and specificity as CT virtual endoscopy combined with 3D images. The former one combined with 3D reconstruction techniques in various tissues can provide  more information than CT virtual endoscopy.