Comparison of multidetector computed tomographic colonography and conventional colonoscopy for detection of colorectal polyps and cancer.
BACKGROUND
Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is a new technique for detecting colonic neoplasms. Data on the utility of this method in the Indian population are limited.


METHODS
Forty-two patients with symptoms of colonic disease underwent CTC and conventional colonoscopy (CC) within one week of each other and the findings at these two investigations were compared.


RESULTS
The entire colon could be evaluated in 38 patients on CTC and in 23 patients on CC. Of the 19 patients who had incomplete CC, 14 had occlusive colonic lesions. Of the 86 lesions detected on CC, 76 (88.4%) were correctly identified on CTC with regard to location and size. CTC was false negative for 10 lesions and false positive for 5 lesions in 3 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of CTC were 65% and 77%, respectively, for lesions 1-5 mm; 97% and 83% for 6-9 mm-sized lesions; and 100% and 100% for lesions 10 mm or larger. Extracolonic findings were seen in 24 of 42 patients (57%).


CONCLUSIONS
CTC is reliable for detecting lesions 6 mm or larger in size. It permits evaluation of the region proximal to an occlusive growth, which is often not possible with CC.
Kalra
Naveen
N
Department of Radiodiagnosis, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India. navkal2004@yahoo.com
Suri
Sudha
S
Bhasin
Deepak K
DK
Sinha
Saroj Kant
SK
Saravanan
N
N
Kour
Taswinder
T
Vaiphei
Kim
K
Wig
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity