title: Virtual endoscopy of laryngeal carcinoma: is it useful?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare virtual endoscopy (VE) with flexible endoscopy in patients with cancer of the larynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study includes 24 patients with proven cancer of the larynx. Patients underwent spiral CT according to our standard protocol for upper airway imaging. This same set of axial scans was transferred to a dedicated workstation to obtain VE images. Results of VE were compared with the findings of flexible endoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quality of the examination was good in 96% of the patients. VE identified all exophytic lesions. Two small flat lesions could be observed as slightly enhanced plaques only on the axial scans. Subglottic extension was correctly demonstrated in all cases by associating VE to the axial scans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VE shows high sensitivity in the identification of exophytic lesions of the larynx and can establish relationships between cancer and nearby structures. It can be performed in the presence of severe stenosis and does not require sedation and additional scanning. On the other hand, VE show limits in the identification of flat lesions and does not allow biopsies and functional imaging to be performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VE is a useful tool for staging and presurgery treatment of cancer of the larynx.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Ospedale Umberto I Torino, Largo Turati no. 62, 10100 Turin, Italy. otorino@mauriziano.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnano
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bongioannini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Regge
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martinich
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canale
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lerda
authors.forename: Maurizio Bona
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Galvagno
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taranto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed