胆膵のvirtual endoscopy

Virtual Endoscopy of Biliary Tract and Pancreas

要旨　胆膵疾患のスクリーニングとして超音波検査やMRCPが施行される．ヘリカルCTやコンピュータ技術の進歩により気管，大血管および腸管などのCT virtual endoscopyが可能となった．胆道・膵臓におけるCT virtual endoscopyの有用性については，今後さらに検討を要するが，胆道や膵管の奇形の評価に期待できる．膵管については，詳細な分岐形態の診断に有用と思われるが，造影法に工夫が必要である．胆道・膵臓におけるCT virtual endoscopyは，端緒についたところであるが，今後デジタル技術の進歩により期待される分野である．さらに超音波やMRCPに代わるスクリーニング法となるか否かについては，今後検討されるべき課題と考える．

　Ultrasonography and MR cholangiopancreatography are the procedures of choice for the detection of diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas. Due to the rapid advance of helical computed tomography and computer technology, virtual endoscopy has come into practical use recently in the bronchus, major vessels and gastrointestinal tracts. The problem remains whether CT Virtual Endoscopy (CT-VE) is useful or not for investigating the biliary tract and pancreas. Expectations for its use in evaluation of biliary tract abnormalities will most probably not be disappointed. It is useful for the detailed diagnosis of the junction form in the pancreas, but contrivance is necessary for contrast administration. The use of CT-VE in the biliary tract and pancreas is still in the initial stage. Advances in this field can be expected in virtual endoscopy.