Diagnostic Value of Spiral CT Scanning and CT Virtual Endoscopy for Gastric Carcinoma

Objective To evaluate spiral CT scanning and CT virtual endoscopy(CTVE) in the clinical diagnosis of gastric carcinoma.Methods Spiral CT scan was performed in 28 patients with pathologically-proved gastric cancer . The CT scan parameters were : collimating width 5 mm , Pitch 1 . The volumetric data were acquired using a spiral CT scanner and transferred to computer workstation . CTVE was performed by navigator smooth function . The results were compared with the findings of fiberoptic endoscopy and/or surgery .Results Spiral CT scan could demonstrate the location ,size,extension of lesions and the relation with organs around .In 28 patients,CT findings included omentum involvement(n=7),pancreatic ivolvement (n=4),hepatic involvement (n=3),lymph node metastasis(n=3). CTVE could clearly demonstrate the three-dimensional image of normal wall stomach and the lesions , size and extension of lesions . The appearances of the inner lesions and normal wall of stomach on CTVE were similar to those on fiberoptic endoscopy and/or surgery . The accuracy in detecting lesion by CTVE was 92.8% in 28 patients . Conclusion CTVE combination with spiral CT scan is of great value in clinical diagnosis of gastric carcinoma .