Diagnostic potential of virtual pneumoendoscopy of the urinary tract.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic possibilities of CT virtual pneumoendoscopy, in various vesical and extra-vesical urinary tract abnormalities and suggest possible indications for this examination.


METHODS
Thirty-three patients (26 men and 7 women, aged 30-91, mean-61 years) were referred by the urologists for specific further evaluation of the urinary tract with virtual pneumoendoscopy for various indications. All patients except three underwent conventional endoscopy within a week either before or after the virtual examination, but the endoscopy was either equivocal or limited. The urinary tract was insufflated with room air.


RESULTS
Successful CT pneumoendoscopy was achieved in 31 of the 33 patients. The indications for the virtual study included obstructive uropathy (22), hematuria (15), and suspected fistula (2). The virtual examination findings included urethral stricture, recto-urethral fistula, multiple bladder tumors, bladder tumor invading the distal ureter or urethra, bladder diverticula containing a tumor, ureteral stricture, renal transitional cell carcinoma, and renal calculi with inflammation. Virtual CT endoscopy had added value to the diagnostic process in all our patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In selected cases virtual CT pneumoendoscopy may serve as an important adjunctive diagnostic aid for urologic pathologies.
Croitoru
Simona
S
MAR Institute, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. croitoru@netvision.net.il
Moskovitz
Boaz
B
Nativ
Ofer
O
Barmeir
Elisha
E
Hiller
Nurith
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007327:Insufflation / Q000379:methods*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014567:Urography / Q000379:methods*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014584:User-Computer Interface