Computer tomography using a high-speed continuous rotary scanner (spiral CT) provides extensive images at high speed. It also permits us obtain three-dimensional images. We recently performed a clinical evaluation of spiral CT.
1. Drip infusion cholangiography (DIC) was performed on 56 patients prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. When DIC was performed using the conventional method, the gallbladder-bile duct junction was visible in only 33% of all cases. When spiral CT was used with DIC to obtain three-dimentional images, the gallbladder-bile duct junction was visible in 84% of all cases.
2. Intravenous bolus spiral CT was performed on 24 patients to diagnose the stage of their gastric cancer. It was possible to obtain images of major intraperitoneal arteries using this technique in almost all cases. With intravenous bolus spiral CT, lymph node metastasis and seroal invasion were accurately diagnosed in 75% and 83% of all cases, respectively, while the percentages were lower (57% and 74%) with plain CT. Thus, spiral CT was useful in accurately determing the stage of gastric cancer.