title: Pitfalls and feasibility of a protocol of virtual colonography designed for the screening of colo-rectal pre-cancerous lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the pitfalls occurring during the virtual colonoscopy examination performed with a protocol designed for screening purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 patients underwent a spiral CT for virtual colonoscopic evaluation with the following parameters: collimation 3 mm, feed 6 mm.rot(-1), pitch 2 and increment 1 mm in supine position. Virtual colonography examination was carried out using a dedicated workstation equipped with a software which allows to generate 3D images and virtual endoscopic views. Colon distension, fluid and fecal material were assessed on a 3 point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distension score was 0.50. Left colon and cecum score was 0.32 while in the sigmoid and rectum the score was worse with 0.86. Fluid and fecal residues scores were 0.31 and 0.19 respectively. On almost half of the patients additional scans would be necessary. The main cause of additional scans is suboptimal intestinal preparation and colon distension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of virtual colonoscopy for screening purposes will be possible through the further technical development and with the optimisation of the protocols, particularly by the improvement of colon cleansing and distension.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Biomedica Europea, ONLUS, Rome, Italy
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luccichenti
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: Lucienne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gualerzi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Rio
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foggis
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sianesi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coruzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012984:Software; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
chemical_list: D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide