title: Virtual gastrointestinal colonoscopy in combination with large bowel endoscopy: clinical application.
abstract: Although colorectal cancer (CRC) has no longer been the leading cancer killer worldwide for years with the exponential development in computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography/CT as well as virtual colonoscopy for early detection, the CRC related mortality is still high. The objective of CRC screening is to reduce the burden of CRC and thereby the morbidity and mortality rates of the disease. It is believed that this goal can be achieved by regularly screening the average-risk population, enabling the detection of cancer at early, curable stages, and polyps before they become cancerous. Large-scale screening with multimodality imaging approaches plays an important role in reaching that goal to detect polyps, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and CRC in early stage. This article reviews kinds of presentative imaging procedures for various screening options and updates detecting, staging and re-staging of CRC patients for determining the optimal therapeutic method and forecasting the risk of CRC recurrence and the overall prognosis. The combination use of virtual colonoscopy and conventional endoscopy, advantages and limitations of these modalities are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Qing He, Yong-Song Guan, Department of Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Qing He, Yong-Song Guan, Department of Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Qing He, Yong-Song Guan, Department of Oncology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000191:economics; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000191:economics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Colorectal polyps; Computed tomography colonography; Conventional colonoscopy; Magnetic resonance colonography; Positron emission tomography/computed tomography colonography; Virtual colonoscopy