Diagnostic potential of virtual bronchoscopy: advantages in comparison with axial CT slices, MPR and mIP?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of virtual e ndoscopy (VE) and to compare it with axial CT slices, multiplanar reconstru ctions (MPR), minimal intensity projections (mIP), and bronchoscopy in pati ents diagnosed with bronchogenic carcinoma. Thirty patients underwent a spi ral CT. Axial CT images were transferred to an Onyx workstation (Silicon Gr aphics, Sun Microsystems, Mountain View, Calif.) for performing virtual end oscopy. Accuracy for this procedure was tested by three radiologists on a m onitor in comparison with axial CT slices, MPR, mIP, and bronchoscopy conce rning the localization and degree of stenoses. Endoluminal tumors were iden tified by virtual bronchoscopy with no statistically significant difference of localization or grading of stenosis in comparison with bronchoscopy, ax ial CT slices, MPR and mIP. Axial CT slices, MPR, and mIP showed poorer res ults with over- or underestimation of stenoses compared with VE and broncho scopy. Passing of stenoses was only possible with VE in 5 patients. Virtual endoscopy is a non-invasive method for identification of endoluminal tumor s and is comparable to real bronchoscopy.