title: Initial experience with computed tomographic colonography applied for noncolorectal cancerous conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to asses retrospectively the performance of computed tomography colonography (CTC) for noncolorectal cancerous conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 44 patients with non-colorectal cancerous conditions underwent CTC. We researched the indications for CTC or present illness and evaluated the CTC imaging findings. We assessed whether diagnosis by CTC reduced conventional colonoscopic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 47 examinations were performed in 44 patients. The indications for CTC or a present illness were as follows: 15 patients with impossible or incomplete colonoscopy, 7 with diverticular disease, 6 with malignancy (noncolorectal cancer), 6 with Crohn's disease, 4 suspected to have a submucosal tumor on colonoscopy, 2 with ischemic colitis, and 4 with various other diseases. Colonic findings were diagnosed on CTC in 36 examinations, and extracolonic findings were identified in 35 of 44 patients. In all, 17 patients had undergone colonoscopy previously, 9 (52.9%) of whom did not require further colonoscopy by CTC. Five patients underwent colonoscopy after CTC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The indications for CTC were varied for patients with noncolorectal cancerous conditions. CTC examinations could be performed safely. Unlike colonoscopy or CT without preparation, CTC revealed colonic and extracolonic findings and may reduce the indication of colonoscopy in patients with noncolorectal cancerous conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tokai University of School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara 259-1193, Japan. tamaki-i@mars.sannet.ne.jp
authors.forename: Tamaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Yuuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies