gms | German Medical Science

Diagnostic imaging of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) area has traditionally been carried out with standard CT. Nowadays there is a transition towards using more cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for certain diagnostic tasks in these areas. Such are the sinunasal area and the temporal bone area. Its use in imaging diseases of the temporal bone and the inner ear has now been well established. In the sinunasal region, all important landmarks and all types of sinusitis can effectively be determined with accuracy and precision using CBCT even in comparison to the standard medical CT accompanied by extremely low radiation doses.

The next generation are the so called “Hounsfield-calibrated” CBCT. Thereby we were enabled to perform a „virtual endoscopy” of the nose and the paranasal sinuses. We used this technique in our daily work on over 500 patients in one year period. Used by an ENT-specialist knowing all relevant clinical findings and without any delay because of integration of a third party as a radiologist, we can see the advantage of the „in-office-imaging” in a better treatment of our patients strictly aligned to their individual needs and wishes. The use of virtual endoscopy enhances the knowledge and understanding of the patients and in consequence a better compliance.

In our belief the CBCT defies the standard medical CT in any area: In-office-maging combined with virtual reality, a better resolution and a extreme reduction of radiation