[Comparison of the images in virtual bronchoscopy under different conditions].
OBJECTIVE
We report herein the comparison of the virtual bronchoscopy (VB) images which were constructed with 2 different computed tomography (CT) scanners combined with 3 different applications in 2 healthy adult volunteers.


METHODS
CT scanners were multi-detector row CT (MDCT) [64 detectors] and MDCT (16 detectors). Applications, by which VB images were made, were Leonardo (Leo), Ziostation (Zio), and Plus XNVZ2 (Plus). The image quality was evaluated by 3 expert bronchoscopists.


RESULTS
The change of the threshold value was necessary in Leo for practical use in subsegmental bronchi and more distal area, but unnecessary in Plus or Zio. When Plus was used, the VB images from the data obtained with MDCT (16 detectors) and MDCT (64 detectors) had almost equal quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the process to construct VB images was different in each application, it was regarded that Plus was not inferior to Zio or Leo in VB image quality.
Sagawa
Motoyasu
M
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.
Usuda
K
K
Tsuchihara
K
K
Aikawa
H
H
Machida
Y
Y
Tanaka
M
M
Ueno
M
M
Nakagawa
K
K
Sakuma
T
T
D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*