CT colonography: current status and future promise.
CT colonography (CTC) is an innovative technology that entails CT examination of the entire colon and computerized processing of the raw data after colon cleansing and colonic distention. CTC could potentially increase the screening rate for colon cancer because of its relative safety, relatively low expense, and greater patient acceptance, but its role in mass colon cancer screening is controversial because of its highly variable sensitivity, the inability to sample polyps for histologic analysis, and lack of therapeutic capabilities. This article reviews the CTC literature, including imaging and adjunctive techniques, radiologic interpretation, procedure indications, contraindications, risks, sensitivity, interpretation pitfalls, and controversies.
Summerton
Susan
S
Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein Medical Center, 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. summertons@einstein.edu
Little
Elizabeth
E
Cappell
Mitchell S
MS
D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000639:trends*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States