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Computed tomographic virtual cystoscopy for the detection of urinary bladder neoplasms
A Ch Tsili1, C Tsampoulas, N Chatziparaskevas
1Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Platia Pargis, 2, Ioannina 45332, Greece. athinatsili@in.gr
European Urology
|October 12, 2004
Summary
Computed tomographic virtual cystoscopy (CTVC) effectively detects bladder neoplasms, matching conventional methods. Reduced milliAmperes-second (mAs) settings maintain lesion conspicuity, making CTVC a valuable, minimally invasive diagnostic tool.
Area of Science:
- Urologic oncology
- Medical imaging
- Diagnostic radiology
Background:
- Bladder neoplasms require accurate detection and staging.
- Conventional cystoscopy can be invasive and sometimes limited.
- Computed tomographic virtual cystoscopy (CTVC) offers a non-invasive imaging alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CTVC for bladder neoplasms.
- To compare CTVC performance at conventional and reduced milliAmperes-second (mAs) settings.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-four patients with known bladder neoplasms underwent CTVC after bladder insufflation.
- Helical CT data were acquired and processed using volume rendering for virtual images.
- Eight patients had scans performed at both conventional (240 mAs) and reduced (70 mAs) settings.
Main Results:
- CTVC successfully identified all 30 bladder lesions visible with conventional cystoscopy.
- CTVC detected two lesions missed by conventional cystoscopy but confirmed surgically.
- Lesion conspicuity was comparable between conventional and reduced mAs CTVC protocols.
Conclusions:
- CTVC is a minimally invasive technique providing comprehensive information on bladder tumors.
- Reduced mAs settings are effective for CTVC, maintaining diagnostic image quality.
- CTVC is a valuable tool for evaluating patients with suspected or known bladder neoplasms.