Colon cancer is the third-most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is the second-most common cause of cancer-related deaths among cancers that affect men and women. The CDC also reports that this is one of the most easily prevented cancers. Yet many adults don't get screened for colorectal cancer despite the wide availability of a variety of screening tests, including virtual colonoscopy.
Less Invasive Than Other Tests
Adults older than 50 are encouraged to have annual fecal occult blood tests as part of the colorectal cancer screening process, but this test isn't necessarily specific to cancer detection. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy tests, which are more accurate, use a flexible lighted tube inserted through the anus to examine all or part of the colorectal area to search for polyps, which are precancerous growths in the colon. Colonoscopy is still considered the gold standard in testing, according to the New York University Medical Center Department of Radiology website. The exam is done on the entire colon and allows for polyp removal during the screening process. Virtual colonoscopy screening uses less invasive tools, such as computerized tomography, called CT, or magnetic resonance imaging, called MRI, to search for polyps. For the standard colonoscopy, the patient is sedated. Not so with virtual colonoscopy, which means patients can immediately resume daily tasks unaided--including driving themselves home after the exam. The virtual colonoscopy also takes less time to perform and affords improved images compared to the barium enema, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Strong Patient Acceptance
The NYU Medical Center's Radiology Department reports on a number of studies that examined why people are so reluctant to participate in colorectal cancer screening tests, even though these tests have proved effective in reducing the incidence of such cancers. They identified embarrassment, anxiety and fear as potential barriers. Many of the studies, however, indicated that people would prefer a virtual colonoscopy over a traditional one by a 3-to-1 or better margin, though at least one study showed a marked preference for the standard test. Although the bowel preparation is similar for both screening tests, patients lean toward having the less invasive option of virtual colonoscopy for the test itself, so health care professionals hope the availability of this option might encourage more people to have the screening done.
Other Clinical Benefits
Virtual colonoscopy has the benefit of seeing inside a colon that is blocked by growths or narrowed by inflammation, according to the NIDDK. The American College of Gastroenterologists says virtual colonoscopies are less likely to result in perforations of the colon and have been known to identify abdominal aortic aneurysms or cancers that are outside the colon, such as those in the kidney or pancreas. The NYU Medical Center Radiology Department notes that virtual colonoscopy may also be a better choice when clinicians are reluctant to use the more invasive barium enema, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy devices, or to sedate patients who are elderly, frail or have other serious illnesses.
