Virtual colonoscopy is also known as screening CT colonography. Unlike the usual or traditional colonoscopy, which needs a scope to be put into your rectum and advanced through your colon, virtual colonoscopy uses a CT scan to take hundreds of cross-sectional pictures of your belly organs.
Virtual colonoscopy is a special X-ray examination of the colon using low dose computed tomography (CT). It is a less invasive procedure than a conventional colonoscopy. A radiologist reviews the images from the virtual colonoscopy to look for polyps on the inside of the colon that can sometimes turn into colon cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common type of cancer and the 3rd leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Colonoscopies have long been the standard screening procedure for detecting growths in the colon, but CT Colonography is a comparably accurate, non-invasive alternative.
While CT colonography is about 88.7% accurate at finding certain polyps, it is less accurate than colonoscopy overall.
Colonoscopy is a method of screening for colorectal cancer. Doctors can also use a range of other invasive and noninvasive alternatives for screening. Alternatives to colonoscopy include sigmoidoscopy, which is a less invasive form of colonoscopy, and noninvasive methods, such as stool sample testing.
If you still won't get a colonoscopy, I would urge you to consider an alternative screening method. While none of the alternative methods will be as effective at identifying and preventing colon cancer, they're a better alternative than doing nothing, and they can still lower your chance of dying from colon cancer.
Stool tests.
Currently, three types of stool tests are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for colorectal cancer: guaiac FOBT (gFOBT); the fecal immunochemical (or immunohistochemical) test (FIT, also known as iFOBT); and multitargeted stool DNA testing (also known as FIT-DNA).
That's because the highly detailed CAT scan images can gather information about your colon, lymph nodes, and small bowel 一 all of which can be affected by celiac disease. Of course, celiac disease is just one example of gastrointestinal diseases.
In a number of studies, CT colonography has displayed results equivalent to colonoscopy in both cancer and polyp detection. CT colonography has been shown to rapidly and effectively examine the entire colon for lesions.
The stool DNA test is a noninvasive tool for adults aged 45 and older with an average risk for colon cancer. 6 The stool DNA tests look for microscopic blood in stool and DNA changes and mutations in the stool that might include precancerous polyps and/or cancerous tumors.
A CT colonography scan delivers a dose of radiation, but this carries a very low risk. It is possible that, as with colonoscopy, CT colonography scans may miss a polyp or a cancer. If a polyp or cancer is identified with this scan, you may still have to have a colonoscopy to further your diagnosis.
CT colonography may not differentiate stool from artifacts and smaller polyps as well as conventional colonoscopy. CT colonography is not recommended for patients who have active Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulitis, because of increased risk of perforating the colon.
A CT scan will identify inflamed diverticula, bowel wall inflammation, pericolic fat stranding, and corresponding complications [9,10,11,83,87,88]. CT is capable of visualizing pericolonic and colonic complications which results in a more accurate diagnosis for the patient, along with better standard of care.
Conclusions: High percentage of CRC findings are missed on abdominal CT due to their subtle feature, with most misses in the rectosigmoid and ascending colon.
Participation was indeed higher for CT colonography (33.6%, 982 of 2920 invitees) than for colonoscopy (21.5%, 1276 of 5924 invitees) (12), whereas unit costs for CT colonography were 25% lower than those of a negative colonoscopy and 53% lower than those of a positive colonoscopy (because of additional costs for ...
Most commercial insurance providers, Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans cover CTC as a diagnostic test. This is important especially if you have a failed colonoscopy or cannot undergo a colonoscopy due to medical reasons. Please note that some states do not have a law requiring colorectal screening coverage.
You may feel uncomfortable and bloated. Rarely, people have pain. This 2 minute video shows how you have a CT colonography.
The DNA stool test is less sensitive than colonoscopy at detecting precancerous polyps. If abnormalities are found, additional tests might be needed. The tests can suggest an abnormality when none is present (false-positive result).
Although radiography can detect large amounts of abnormal gas, it cannot evaluate the distribution and amount of the gas in detail (Fig. 1). CT has the highest accuracy among the imaging modalities for detection of abnormal gas in the abdomen and pelvis.
Your doctor may diagnose your condition using: Abdominal and Pelvic CT: A CT scan is the best test to diagnose diverticulitis. It can also help determine the severity of the condition and guide treatment. You may receive an intravenous (IV) injection of contrast material.
Studies show that, for someone of average risk, the FIT test is a good alternative to colonoscopy. There is also evidence that people unwilling to undergo a colonoscopy will complete a FIT test.
Your doctor will gently push the tube inside your colon and take pictures along the way. They will pump small amounts of air inside your colon to keep it open while the tube is in place. The doctor will be looking for polyps (small growths on the colon) that could turn into cancer with enough time.
There's no upper age limit for colon cancer screening. But most medical organizations in the United States agree that the benefits of screening decline after age 75 for most people and there's little evidence to support continuing screening after age 85. Discuss colon cancer screening with your health care provider.
Colonoscopies are a routine procedure that is important for your digestive system, colon and general health. While some patients avoid getting colonoscopies, they should not be avoided.