Artikel
Clinical experiences with the Digital Volume Tomography at the lateral skull base
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Autoren
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Carsten V. Dalchow
- ENT Dep., Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
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Siegfried Bien
- Department of Neuroradiology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
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Andreas Sesterhenn
- ENT Dep., Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
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Jochen A. Werner
- ENT Dep., Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| Veröffentlicht: | 7. September 2006 |
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Gliederung
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Background: Digital Volume Tomography (DVT) is an extension of the panoramic tomography. With its high resolution of 0.125 mm DVT demonstrating smallest bony lesions of the lateral skull base, its value of visualizing pathologies of the semicircular canals even in early stages is examined.
Introduction: Digital Volume Tomography (DVT) is increasingly used for radiographic imaging of the lateral skull base. The clinical experiences points out its value in the early diagnosis of bony pathologies.
Method: Since February 2005 preoperative radiographic imaging of the lateral skull base occurred in 261 patients with a chronic otitis media, unclear conductive hearing loss and prior to cochlear implantation. With the second generation DVT (3DX Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Kyoto, Japan) a cylindrical shaped cylinder with diameters of 6 x 6 cm is captured by a 360° rotation of the emitter-detector unit as tridimensional volume. The gained data are then analyzed with a PC. The angulation of the axial, coronal and sagital slices can be changed subsequently to precisely visualize structures of interest with a high-resolution slice thickness of 0.125 mm.
Results: By DVT single bony structures of the lateral skull base can be visualized precisely for diagnosis of smallest pathologies early. Unlike the device of the first generation a larger region of interest of 6 x 6 cm instead of 4 x 3 cm and 4096 instead of 256 grey-scales is representable by use of a digital image intensifier. With this new technique, erosions of the ossicles, labyrinth and cochlear are demonstrated. Radiographic imaging with the second generation DVT facilitates precise planning of a surgical intervention and a specific clarification of surgical risks for the patient.
Conclusion: The digital Volume Tomography extends the diagnostic potential of radiographic imaging of bony lesions of the lateral skull base. With its easy to use technique, DVT combines a low radiation dosage with high resolution for the precise diagnosis of bony lesions for example of the ossicles, labyrinth and cochlea even in very early stages.
