Abstract
Objective: To study the feasibility of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based virtual endoscopy of the labyrinth to assess subtle inner ear pathology. Study Design: A retrospective case review of patient with known inner car pathology to determine the feasibility and clinical value of MRI-based virtual labyrinthoscopy. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Ton patients with ...
Abstract
Objective: To study the feasibility of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based virtual endoscopy of the labyrinth to assess subtle inner ear pathology. Study Design: A retrospective case review of patient with known inner car pathology to determine the feasibility and clinical value of MRI-based virtual labyrinthoscopy. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Ton patients with symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss or vertigo who underwent high-resolution MRI between 1996 and 1999. Intervention: Diagnostic image modality with three-dimensional (3-D) postprocessing to assess inner car pathology. Main Outcome Measures: To evaluate how 3-D rendering with virtual labyrinthoscopy can depict subtle labyrinthine pathology. Results: Cases with typical 3-D models and virtual labyrinthoscopic views are presented to illustrate this new image processing approach. Conclusion: The virtual endoscopic view of the labyrinth revealed subtle inner car pathology. This 3-D postprocessing technique is able to render inner surface changes of tiny structures within the inner ear. It can be performed within a very short time using dedicated hybrid rendering techniques. It allows visualization of pathology in a comprehensive way for clinicians and is able to add 3-D information for troubleshooting in doubtful two-dimensional findings. We suggest the term virtual labryrinthoscopy for virtual intraluminal visualization of the labyrinth.
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