Virtual CT endoscopy ''cruising eye view''. Development and clinical applications

We developed a virtual CT endoscopy, designated as 'Cruising Eye View (CEV)', generated from spiral volumetric CT data and reconstructed using a new three-dimensional image reconstruction technique. Using this new method, we reconstructed the inner image of patients with aortic dissection (2 cases) and arteriosclerosis obliterance (3 cases). The view point and view direction could be set arbitrarily in the vessel, so that the site, configuration, and/or degree of the intravascular abnormalities were recognized at first glance. Virtual CT endoscopy with CEV method is a promising, non-invasive strategy for achieving the inner image of diverse aorto-arterial pathologies. (author)