Computed tomographic colonography: current perspectives and future directions.
Computed tomographic (CT) colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy or CT colography, is capable of detecting colon polyps and cancers. It is emerging rapidly and has gained great momentum over the past several years, to the point where it has been proposed to be a viable primary colon cancer screening option. Despite the current publicity, many issues concerning CT colonography remain. As of 2009, the following topics are of paramount importance: (1) accuracy, including both sensitivity and specificity, (2) bowel preparation, (3) safety, (4) extracolonic findings, (5) patient acceptability, (6) training and standardization, and (7) implementation of CT colonography. Although much about CT colonography has already been learned, more remains to be learned in the future.
Rockey
Don C
DC
Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8887, USA. don.rockey@utsouthwestern.edu
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity