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Breadth and Depth: Three-Dimensional Endoscopic Field of View: Two-Dimensional Versus Three-Dimensional Endoscopic
Robert Bickerton1, Shahzada Ahmed2, Amr Kholief3
1College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Background:
Three-dimensional (3D) endoscopy is an emerging tool in ear-nose-throat (ENT) and skull base surgery with the benefit of providing real-time depth perception. Several investigators have reported that the field of view (FOV) is reduced in 3D endoscopes compared with regular 2-dimensional (2D) endoscopes. Thus, we objectively compared the FOV of 2D and 3D endoscopes.
Methods:
Using a standard 2D and 2 different 3D ENT endoscopes, images were captured of 1-mm graph paper from a set distance of 6 cm. The FOV was calculated from these images and compared among the endoscopes.
Results:
The VisionSense 3D endoscope had a slightly smaller FOV (9.1 cm vs. 10.1 cm; -9.9%), and the Karl Storz 3D endoscope showed a slightly larger FOV (10.4 cm vs. 10.1 cm; +3.0%). However, the results were complicated by the different-shaped images produced by the 3D endoscopes.
Conclusion:
The differences in the FOV between the 2D and 3D endoscopes used in ENT surgery were not clinically significant. Thus, the FOV should not be considered a limitation of 3D technology.
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