Three-dimensional imaging of the stomach by spiral CT.

Three-dimensional spiral CT is a new imaging modality, 3D-CT of the gastrointestinal tract, so-called "virtual endoscopy," has a potential for widespread use in the diagnosis of pathologic conditions of the bowel. Clinical applications of 3D-CT in the stomach include the evaluation of early gastric carcinoma, advanced gastric carcinoma, leiomyoma, lymphoma, and benign ulcer. The main advantage of 3D-CT over axial CT of the stomach is its accurate display of gastric lesions as shown by gastroscopy. Virtual gastroscopy has the potential of replacing barium studies. Moreover, combined axial CT and 3D-CT imaging using spiral CT make it possible to accurately diagnose gastric lesions.