[The scientific bases of virtual endoscopy].

The recent advances in medical imaging, the avaibility of methods for image analysis and computer graphics, the technological resources provided by microdevices and the design of minimal access surgical procedures have open the road to new concepts. Virtual endoscopy represents one of these emerging areas and points out the applicative potential of three dimensional (3D) imaging. It leads to less invasive diagnosis and therapeutic achievements and provides important cues for education and interventional planning. Image segmentation, visualization, tissue modeling and interactions with surgical instruments are the fundamental components to build clinical applications. They are examined in this paper through 3D navigation systems, surgical simulations and image guided interventions.