3-D Holographic Imaging: A Groundbreaking New Way to Diagnose Colorectal Cancer

“Game changer.”

That’s how Dr. Judy Yee, professor and vice chair of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging and chief of radiology at SFVAMC, described EchoPixel’s True 3D software. The innovative new technology takes data from CT and MRI scans and transforms it into 3D holographic images using 3D glasses, a laser stylus, and a special display. Through this virtual reality software, doctors can virtually examine a patient’s internal organs in greater detail and from any angle.

For Dr. Yee, virtual holography CT colonography (CTC) is the latest phase in a two-decade research career devoted to detecting colorectal cancer at earlier, more lifesaving stages. Typically with cancer screening, radiologists look for the cancer itself, but for those diagnosed with colorectal cancer, once the cancer is found, it’s too late. With 3-D virtual reality colonoscopy, however, radiologists are able to discover potentially cancerous lesions (known as polyps) before they turn into cancer, making it a lifesaving procedure.

“As the equipment evolves, it allows us to view the same disease processes in a completely different way so we can improve detection and diagnostic ability and streamline workflow,” explained Dr. Yee in the summer 2016 edition of UCSF Magazine. “This could go a long way toward helping show what radiology can bring to patient diagnosis and management for all parts of the body.”

Learn more about the groundbreaking new EchoPixel platform by watching the video from CNBC or clicking through for more details.