Early experiences with computed axial tomography colonography

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 187; no. 4; pp. 511 - 514
• Main Authors: Serracino-Inglott, Ferdinand, Atkinson, Henry D.E, Jha, Paul, Parker, Ian, Anderson, David N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2004; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abscesses; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aneurysms; Barium; Biological and medical sciences; Bladder; Cancer; Colon; Colonic carcinoma; Colonic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Colonic pathology; Colonography, Computed Tomographic; Colonoscopy; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Computed axial tomography colonography; Cysts; Female; General aspects; Hernias; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ovaries; Pathology; Patients; Polyps; Radiation; Software; Spiral computed axial tomography; Tomography; Tumors; Visualization; United States > US; Ireland; Spiral computed axial tomography; Colonic carcinoma; Computed axial tomography colonography; Colonic pathology; Medicine; Anatomic pathology; Carcinoma; Treatment; Radiodiagnosis; Surgery; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Malignant tumor; Colon; Axial tomography
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2003.12.029

Computed axial tomography (CT) colonography is the latest radiologic technique to be used to image the large bowel. We studied its role as a diagnostic tool in colorectal practice. One hundred and three patients suspected of having colorectal pathology underwent CT colonography. CT colonography suggested a diagnosis of colonic carcinoma in 18 patients, and 17 of these underwent surgery. A colorectal neoplasm was not found in only 1 patient who had extrinsic colonic compression by an ovarian cyst. Twenty-one patients had suspected colonic polyps on scanning. Subsequent endoscopy in 19 of these patients confirmed the presence of polyps in only 10. CT colonography also revealed valuable extracolonic pathology: 8 occult noncolonic neoplasms and 163 other incidental findings. CT colonography has good patient compliance and is a useful diagnostic modality in detecting colorectal neoplasms. Its main advantage over other such investigative tools is its ability to detect extracolonic pathology.