Computerized Tomographic Colonography Results Seen as Promising

Two groups of researchers report encouraging results in comparing detection of polyps with computerized tomographic colonography to detection using the traditional colonoscopy.

Danish researchers from Aarhus University Hospital, reporting in the journal Endoscopy, said their study found detection of polyps 6 mm or larger was comparable between computerized tomographic colonography and colonoscopy.

And Mayo Clinic researchers, reporting in the journal Gastroenterology, said their retrospective study found that computerized tomographic colonography performance compared favorably with performance of fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and barium enema.

The Danish researchers conducted a prospective trial involving three groups of patients examined by both colonoscopy and computerized tomographic colonography -- 66 symptomatic patients, 75 patients under surveillance because of previous polyps, and 7 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing colonoscopy prior to surgery.

Comparable detection rates were found between the two procedures for polyps 6 mm or larger, with 87 percent found by colonoscopy and 81 percent found by computerized tomographic colonography.

Other sources: Endoscopy, Gastroenterology