gms | German Medical Science

The Digital Volume Tomography (DVT) is increasingly used in the diagnostics of the Lateral Skull Base. Clinical experiences confirm, that even very small bony pathologies are visualized in early stages with the new generation of DVT´s.

Since February 2005 a preoperative examination with DVT was performed in 261 patients with the history of a chronic middle ear disease, unclear air-bone gap or prior to cochlear implantation. For DVT with the 2nd generation Accu-I-tomo (Morita, Japan) a three-dimensional volume of 6 x 6cm diameter is acquired by a 360° rotation of the emitter-detector unit. The angulations of the axial, coronal and sagital planes can then be arbitrary changed for precise visualization of single structures of interest with high resolution of 0.125mm.

Detailed structures are visualized by DVT allowing an early diagnosis of small bony pathologies. In comparison, the 2nd generation DVT captures a larger region of interest with 6 x 6 cm instead of 4 x 3 cm and a greater grey-scale with 4096 instead of 256, displaying erosions of the ossicular chain, labyrinth and cochlea even in earlier stages. With this detailed information, surgical strategies are planned more precisely and patients information of intra-operative risks are more specific.

Digital Volume Tomography expands the diagnostic possibilities of the Lateral Skull Base.

With its facile examination method DVT additionally offers a high resolution with only a very small radiation dosage, facilitating an early and precise diagnosis of pathologies of the Lateral Skull Base e.g. the ossicles, labyrinthine structures and the cochlear.