| Theme |
Virtual Endoscopy -- Present Status and Perspective |
| Title |
Three Dimensional Imaging and Virtual Endoscopy Using Endoscopic Ultrasonography |
| Author |
Kenjiro Yasuda |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital |
| Author |
Hideaki Kawabata |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital |
| Author |
Masatsugu Nakajima |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Endoscopic ultrasonography can produce cross-sectional images of the GI wall, which correspond well with histological findings. By using continuous scanning images from EUS, three dimensional images can be produced by overlaping the images. However, a great deal of information is lost in the 3-D EUS image, produced as continuous slices of EUS, as each image contains a great deal of information. On the other hand, virtual endoscopic pictures from 3-D EUS systems are not useful, because EUS systems have endoscopic functions. We can evaluate those virtual endoscopic images from EUS which will produce a reference point for investigating ultrasound images obtained through EUS. |