GI physicians take second look at CT colonography

Gastrointestinal physicians have long been skeptical of virtual colonoscopy. Research presented in May at the Digestive Disease Week meeting in Los Angeles, however, suggests these clinicians are embracing the radiology technique.

Dr. Brooks Cash, director of clinical research at the National Naval Medical Center, and colleagues prospectively examined 760 asymptomatic participants who were at average risk for colon cancer. VC-detected polyps determined optical colonoscopy follow-up on the same day, at one year, and at five years, depending on polyp size.

Study findings suggest that while VC sensitivity falls as polyp sizes get smaller, VC detection of polyps 6 to 9 mm in size was comparable to that of optical colonoscopy, with an 83.6% accuracy. The investigators concluded that VC is an effective method to screen for precancerous colorectal lesions in people at average risk of cancer.

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