Pitfalls and feasibility of a protocol of virtual colonography designed for the screening of colo-rectal pre-cancerous lesions.
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.
Luccichenti
Giacomo
G
Fondazione Biomedica Europea, ONLUS, Rome, Italy
Cademartiri
Filippo
F
Nogueira
Lucienne
L
Brambilla
Lorenzo
L
Gualerzi
Massimo
M
Del Rio
Paolo
P
Foggis
Enrico
E
Sianesi
Mario
M
Coruzzi
Paolo
P
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
D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide