BACKGROUND: Although flexible endoscopy is only 25 years old, a new technology may soon be used to provide the same view of internal organs without inserting an instrument. This is virtual endoscopy.

METHODS: By acquiring patient specific high resolution digital images with a helical CT scan or MRI, individual organs can be graphically isolated or “segmented” into fully interactive 3-D reconstructions on a computer monitor. Applying sophisticated flighttracking programs from military pilots, the organs can be “flown through”, giving a view identical to endoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: In the future we will fly through data instead of inserting endoscopic instruments for gastrointestinal endoscopic diagnosis.