New diagnostic imaging of gastointestinal tumors: a preliminary study of three-dimensional tumor structure and volumetry.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present report was to present preliminary results of the pre-operative evaluation of three-dimensional tumor structure and volumetry using three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) and three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography (3-D EUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnostic imaging was performed for 2 patients (one with gastric cancer, one with a rectal tumor) using virtual endoscopy, 3-D CT for the patient with gastric cancer and 3-D EUS for the patient with the rectal tumor, for the pre-operative evaluation of tumor structure and volumetry. Computer-generated image analysis of resected tumors was also performed. RESULTS: The gastric tumor was successfully visualized using 3-D CT and the rectal tumor was successfully visualized using 3-D EUS. The values obtained for volume of the stomach tumor, calculated using 3-D CT and resected materials, were 15.1 cm3 and 11.4 cm3, respectively. The values obtained for volume of the rectal tumor, calculated using 3-D EUS and resected materials, were 2.3 cm3 and 3.9 cm3, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present findings demonstrate that clinically useful results can be obtained by using 3-D CT and 3-D EUS for the pre-operative evaluation of 3-D tumor structure and volumetry of gastrointestinal tumors. We expect that further studies of these methods will lead to the establishment of new diagnostic criteria for gastrointestinal tumors based on tumor volume in the near future.