title: Virtual colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps and cancers in a Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy in detecting colorectal polyps and cancers in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one consecutive Chinese patients (38 men and 33 women) referred for diagnostic colonoscopy were recruited. Patients received a routine bowel preparation in the morning followed by a helical abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan with air insufflation of the colon. The CT images were then processed by using surface-rendered software and interpreted by a single radiologist who was blinded to the clinical information. Colonoscopy was performed in the same afternoon without knowledge of the radiology results. All polyps and cancers were proven histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five colorectal cancers were diagnosed and all were detected by virtual colonoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of virtual colonoscopy for the detection of patients with polyps of all sizes, and patients with polyps >/=10 mm were 59, 92, 88 and 100%, respectively. The procedure was well tolerated by all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was carried out in a real clinical setting without a preselection of cases. Virtual colonoscopy was satisfactory for the detection of polyps greater than 10 mm, and for the diagnosis of cancer, and it is also a promising imaging modality for colorectal neoplasm detection in a Chinese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. bcywong@hku.hk
authors.forename: Benjamin Chun-Yu
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Wai-Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: John K F
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kam-Chuen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wayne H C
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chi-Kuen
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Shiu-Kum
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Carr-Locke
mesh_terms: D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity