title: Clinical value of CT three-dimensional imaging in diagnosing gastrointestinal tract diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the clinical value of CT three-dimensional (3-D) imaging in diagnosing gastrointestinal tract diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-D imaging findings of 52 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Three-D imaging methods included shaded surface display (SSD), volume rendering (VR), virtual endoscopy (VE) and multiplanar reformatting (MPR). The diagnosis results of CT 3-D were evaluated by comparison with those of endoscopy and/or surgical finding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two patients with gastrointestinal tract diseases were diagnosed by CT 3-D imaging, of whom 50 cases were correctly diagnosed and 2 were misdiagnosed. There were 33 cases of gastric diseases (27 with carcinoma, 5 with peptic ulcer and 1 with leiomyoma) and 19 large intestinal diseases (10 with colon carcinoma, 2 with carcinoma of the rectum, 5 with colon polypus and 2 with tuberculosis of the ileocecal junction). Twenty-two cases with prominent lesions (9 with subsequent hollow lesions), 20 with stenosis of cavity (8 with concomitant prominent lesions) and 10 with hollow lesions (5 with concomitant prominent lesions) were shown in 3-D images. The minimal lesion shown was 1.0 cm x 0.8 cm x 0.5 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT 3-D imaging, a non-invasive examination without pain, can display clearly and directly the lesions of gastrointestinal tract with accurate location and high diagnosis accuracy. It is an important complementary technique to endoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Department, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, Fujian Province, China. xmdsy@xmzsh.com
authors.forename: Shao-Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Dan-Tong
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing-Chi
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yan-Huan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology