Department of Radiology, Bowman-Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
27157-1054, USA.
Title
Virtual bronchoscopy. Relationships of virtual reality
endobronchial simulations to actual bronchoscopic findings.
Source
Chest 1996 Feb;109(2):549-53
Abstract
Advances in computer technology have permitted development of virtual reality images of
the tracheobronchial tree using data sets derived from helical CT of the chest. To
determine the relevance of these images to actual bronchoscopic findings, we compared
"virtual bronchoscopy" images with videotaped bronchoscopy results in 20 patients who
had undergone both helical chest CT and fiberoptic bronchoscopy during clinical
evaluation of their thoracic problems. Suboptimal endobronchial simulations in ten
patients identified important, readily-addressed technical requirements for this imaging
procedure. In the ten patients with technically suitable renderings of the airway, virtual
bronchoscopy simulations accurately demonstrated endobronchial obstructions by tumor
in five, airway distortion and/or ectasia in four, and accessory bronchi in another. These
preliminary observations suggest that virtual bronchoscopy simulations accurately
represent major endobronchial anatomic findings. This technique may have a role in
prebronchoscopy planning, endoscopy training, and/or endobronchial therapy, and merits
further study.