title: [Clinical applications of imaging reconstruction by virtual sonography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the pitfalls in managing multiple liver tumors is the difficulty in identifying individual tumors on ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT)-assisted virtual sonography has been shown to improve sonographic diagnosis, however it requires additional equipment and software. We have developed a simple reconstruction method of virtual sonography (SRVS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reconstructed SRVS mimicking ultrasonographic images, utilizing a workstation software attached to a multi-detector row CT system without any additional program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have performed SRVS in 32 patients with 41 liver tumors that could hardly be identify on ultrasonography. SRVS assisted the identification of malignant form non-pathologic ones and thereby contributed to the appropriate clinical strategy including RFA (18 tumors), liver biopsy (2 tumors), other therapies (4 tumors) and follow-up (17 tumors).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed virtual sonography using conventional CT software. SRVS seems useful in the clinical practice in managing liver tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Inuyama Chuo Hospital.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Noritsugu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oohashi
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Hideharu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tatebe
authors.forename: Nobutoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fushimi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuno
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface