Virtual Inner Ear Endoscopy.

摘要

Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are non-invasive diagnostic imaging modalities that display internal anatomy of the middle and inner ear as two-dimensional cross-sectional slices. Radiologists and otolaryngologists can view these 2-D images and usually create a mental model of the 3-D structures present in the study. However, many of the tubular structures that exist in the temporal bone have complex morphology and pass back and forth through the cross sections. Endoscopists view organs from the inside, but a navigationally and spatially constrained and, in the inner ear, real endoscopy is currently not possible. We demonstrate the use of 3-D computer graphics techniques to generate a non-invasive 'virtual' otoscopy of the middle and inner ear from CT or MRI data, that avoids the difficulties of traditional techniques and permits views of the middle and inner ear not otherwise attainable. If developed, virtual otoscopy will permit planning the treatment of a variety of inner ear pathologies without the need for ablative labyrinthectomy.