CT Virtual Colonoscopy
CT Virtual Colonoscopy : Preparation Guidelines
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, surpassed only by lung cancer in the United States. Every year, approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed resulting in approximately 55,000 deaths. Most experts agree that cancer of the colon is a truly preventable disease.
Risk factors for the development of colon cancer include:
- a largely low fiber diet
- a family history of colon cancer
- inflammatory bowel disease
- multiple polyps
- a personal history of colon cancer or adenomatous polyps
Colon cancer risk increases with age, especially for individuals over 50 years old. However it is worthwhile noting that the majority of all colon cancers occur in people who have none of the above risk factors
Virtual colonoscopy is a relatively new procedure that allows our highly skilled radiologists to recreate and evaluate the inner surface of the colon in a way that has never before been possible. It utilizes a combination of the latest CT technology and sophisticated image processing computers to generate images of the colon from start to finish. It is a minimally invasive and painless test. It takes approx 15 minutes and you will able to resume normal activity directly after the procedure.
Patients are requested to take a prep prior to the procedure. When the exam begins a small tube is placed in the rectum to allow for air to be introduced into the colon. Some patients may complain of cramping but this is usually minimal. You will be requested to hold your breath several times while the the "high speed spiral CT" rapidly scans your abdomen.
Today there are many screening options available for colorectal cancer which include rectal examination, fecal occult blood testing, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy and fiberoptic colonoscopy. However patients continue to remain reluctant to undergo such screening examinations and because of this the incidence of colorectal cancer remains high. Virtual colonoscopy offers the patient a more comfortable, less invasive way to have their colon evaluated. Virtual colonoscopy, while it maintains the high standards of regular colonoscopy in detecting detect polyps and cancers in the colon and rectum also offers the patient a more relaxed and less invasive option when it comes to colon screening. It will undoubtedly continue to increase early detection of this disease, allow patients make clear choices and eventually reduce colon cancer mortality rates.
Because the object of the test is to find very small polyps, which once removed will never become cancerous, it is necessary be sure the colon is free of all residue and fecal material so that there is no confusion in the results of the test. This cleansing is achieved by undergoing a preparation on the day before the exam.
A bowel preparation is currently essential for confident detection of significant lesions because residual fecal material may be indistinguishable from polyps or neoplasms or may make it impossible to detect a polyp since it may be obscured by the residual fecal material.
Virtual Colonoscopy-PREPARATION
