Purpose
Virtual endoscopy (VE) is a new diagnostic tool that generates 3-dimensional (3D) views of a lumen by exploiting cross-sectional images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of VE as a diagnostic tool in the diseases of the larynx and pharynx.
Materials and Methods
Twenty-two patients with a mean age of 57 years were included in the study. The patients underwent larynx examination, optical endoscopy (OE), and computed tomography (CT) of the larynx. Later, VE was produced from the CT images.
Results
Eight patients had larynx carcinoma, a 5-year-old patient had a laryngeal web, a 43-year-old man had fish bone stuck in his submucosal layer, 10 patients were normal, and the remaining two patients were under follow-up for treated nasopharynx carcinoma and had no evidence for recurrence. VE showed the laryngeal tumor in seven patients and the laryngeal web in one patient, but failed to show a plaquelike tumor and the fishbone within the submucosa.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that VE is a useful and complimentary method of 3D imaging in the diseases compromising the laryngeal lumen. Furthermore, it may be superior to OE in severe stenosis or obstructions where the endoscope cannot be passed through.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D Bartz (2005) ArticleTitleLife and medical sciences Virtual Endosc Res Clin Pract 24 IssueID1 1–17
AJ Burke DJ Vining WF McGuirt G Postma JD Browne (2000) ArticleTitleEvaluation of airway obstruction using virtual endoscopy Laryngoscope 110 23–29 Occurrence Handle10646710 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005537-200001000-00005 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7htVKgsg%3D%3D
RP Gallivan TH Nguyen WB Armstrong (1999) ArticleTitleHead and neck computed tomography virtual endoscopy: evaluation of a new imaging technique Laryngoscope 109 1570–1579 Occurrence Handle10522923 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00005537-199910000-00005 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MvltVOmug%3D%3D
P Walshe S Hamilton D McShane RM Walsh MA Walsh MA Timon (2002) ArticleTitleThe potential of virtual laryngoscopy in the assessment of vocal cord lesions Clin Otolaryngol 27 98–100 Occurrence Handle11994114 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2273.2002.00539.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD383mvF2ltw%3D%3D
S Men AO Ikiz I Topcu H Cakmakci C Ecevit (2006) ArticleTitleCT and virtual endoscopy findings in congenital laryngeal web Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 70 1125–1127 Occurrence Handle16359736 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ijporl.2005.10.023
T Gluecker F Lang S Bessier P Monnier R Meuli P Schnyder B Duvoisin (2001) ArticleTitle2D and 3D CT imaging correlated to rigid endoscopy in complex laryngo-tracheal stenoses Eur Radiol 11 50–54 Occurrence Handle11194917 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003300000567 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7ptFerug%3D%3D
AT Byrne P Walshe D McShane S Hamilton (2005) ArticleTitleVirtual laryngoscopy—preliminary experience Eur J Radiol 56 38–42 Occurrence Handle16168262 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ejrad.2005.02.006 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MvpslWntg%3D%3D
P Springer B Stöhr SM Giacomuzzi G Bodner A Klingler W Jaschke D Nedden Particlezur (2000) ArticleTitleVirtual computed tomography colonoscopy: artifacts, image quality and radiation dose load in a cadaver study Eur Radiol 10 183–187 Occurrence Handle10663741 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003300050030 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7jtVyqtw%3D%3D
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Men, S., Ecevit, M.C., Topçu, I. et al. Diagnostic Contribution of Virtual Endoscopy in Diseases of the Upper Airways. J Digit Imaging 20, 67–71 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-006-0857-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-006-0857-4