Article

A 320-detector-row multislice computed tomography (320-MSCT) scanner can acquire
a volume data set covering a maximum range of 16 cm and can generate axial images
0.5-mm thick at 0.5-mm intervals. Three-dimensional (3D) images reconstructed
from the thin axial slices include multiplanar reconstruction and 3D-CT.
Single-phase 3D images are reconstructed from 0.175-s data, and multiphase 3D
images are created in 29 phases at intervals of 0.1 s. Continuous replay of these
3D images produces four-dimensional moving images. In order to determine the
feasibility of the morphologic and kinematic analyses of swallowing using
320-MSCT, single-phase volume scanning was performed on three patients and
multiphase volume scanning was performed on one healthy volunteer. The
single-phase 3D images clearly and accurately showed the structures involved in
swallowing, and the multiphase 3D images were able to show the oral stage to the
early esophageal stage of swallowing, allowing a kinematic analysis of
swallowing. We developed a reclining chair that allows scanning to be performed
with the subject in a semisitting position, which makes swallowing evaluation by
320-MSCT applicable not only to research on healthy swallowing but also to the
clinical examination of dysphagia patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS