title: Early experiences with computed axial tomography colonography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and three patients suspected of having colorectal pathology underwent CT colonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, St. John's Hospital at Howden, Howden Rd. West, Livingston EH54 6PP, United Kingdom. fsinglott@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serracino-Inglott
authors.forename: Henry D E
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged