Skip to main content

Virtual Colonoscopy: From Concept to Implementation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 989 Accesses

Abstract

Virtual colonoscopy (VC, aka computed tomography [CT] colonography, or CTC) was introduced in 1994 as a minimally invasive screening technique for the detection of colorectal polyps and cancer [1]. It is a CT examination of the colon, cleansed of stool and distended with gas, in which the images are interpreted on a workstation using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) techniques. After early work by several academic groups, VC soon gained the public’s attention for its potential to be a minimally invasive colorectal screening option. This chapter provides an overview of its early development, challenges to gain insurance coverage, and key factors that will impact its broader implementation in the United States. Implementation in several other countries is discussed in Chapter 2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Vining DJ, Gelfand DW, Bechtold RE, et al. Technical feasibility of colon imaging with helical CT and virtual reality. Am J Roentgenol. 1994;162(suppl):104.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hamlin DJ, Burgener FA, Sischy B. New technique to stage early rectal carcinoma by computed tomography. Radiology. 1981;141:539–540.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Balthazar EM, Megibow, AJ, Hulnick D, Naidich DP. Carcinoma of the colon: detection and preoperative staging by CT. AJR. 1988;150:301–306.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Coin JT, Coin CG. Nontoxic contrast agents for computed tomography. Paper presented at Contrast Media in Computed Tomography International Workshop, Berlin, 14–17 Jan 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Coin CG, Wollett FC, Coin JT, Rowland M, Deramos RK, Dandrea R. Computerized radiology of the colon: a potential screening technique. Comput Radiol. 1983;7:215–221.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Vining DJ, Teigen EL, Stelts D, Vanderwerken B, Kpecky KK, Rex D. Experience with virtual colonoscopy in 20 patients. Radiology. 1995;197:514.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Amin Z, Boulos PB, Lees WR. Technical report: spiral CT pneumocolon for suspected colonic neoplasms. Clin Radiol. 1996;5:56–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Royster AP, Fenlon HM, Clarke PD, Nunes DP, Ferrucci JT. CT colonoscopy of colorectal neoplasms: two-dimensional and three-dimensional virtual-reality techniques with colonoscopic correlation. Am J Roentgenol. 1997;169:1237–1242

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Dachman AH, Kuniyoshi JK, Boyle CM, Samara Y, Hoffmann KR, Rubin DT, Hanan I. CT colography with 3D problem solving for detection of colonic polyps. AJR. 1998; 171:989–995.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ferrucci JT, Jeffrey RB, Fenlon HM. Boston, MA. First International Symposium: Virtual Colonoscopy. 1998; October 1–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fenlon H, Nunes D, Schroy PI, Barish M, Clark P, Ferrucci J. A comparison of virtual and conventional colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1496–1503.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Yee J, Akerkar GA, Hung RK, Steinauer-Gebauer AM, Wall SD, McQuaid KR. Colorectal neoplasia: performance characteristics of CT colonography for detection in 300 patients. Radiology. 2001;219:685–692.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rockey DC PE, Niedzwiecki D, Davis W, Bosworth HB, Sanders L, Yee J, et al. Analysis of air contrast barium enema, computed tomographic colonography, and colonoscopy: prospective comparison. Lancet. 2005;365:305–311

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Johnson CD, Harmsen WS, Wilson LA, et al. Prospective blinded evaluation of computed tomographic colonography for screen detection of colorectal polyps. Gastroenterology. 2003;125:311–319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cotton DB, Durkalski VL, Pineau BC, et al. Computed tomographic colonography (virtual colonoscopy): a multicenter comparison with standard colonoscopy for detection of colorectal neoplasia. JAMA 2004;291:1713–1719.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Pickhardt Pickhardt PJ, Choi JR, Hwang I, et al. Computed tomographic virtual colonoscopy to screen for colorectal neoplasia in asymptomatic adults. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:2191–2200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Katie’s virtual colonoscopy 2002. Today show [website] http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3079461 (Accessed 17 Aug 2010).

  18. Ferrucci JT. Caldwell Lecture: Colon cancer screening with virtual colonoscopy: promise, polyps, politics. Am J Roentgenol. 2001;177:975–988.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Johnson CD, Chen MH, Toledano AY, et al. Accuracy of CT colonography for detection of large adenomas and cancers. NEJM. 2008;359:1207–1217.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kim DH, Pickhardt PJ, Taylor AJ, et al. CT colonography versus colonoscopy for the detection of advanced neoplasia. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1403–1412.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Graser A, Stieber P, Nagel D, et al. Comparison of CT colonography, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood tests for the detection of advanced adenoma in an average risk population. Gut. 2009;58:241–248.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Regge D. Accuracy of CT colonography in subjects at increased risk of colorectal carcinoma: a multi-center trial of 1,000 patients. JAMA. 2009;301:2453–2461.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. American College of Radiology. ACR practice guideline for the performance of computed tomography (CT) colonography in adults. http://www.acr.org/SecondaryMainMenuCategories/quality_safety/guidelines/dx/gastro/ct_colonography.aspx (Accessed 16 Apr 2010).

  24. McFarland EG, Fletcher JG, Pickhardt P, Dachman A, Yee J, McCollough C et al. ACR Colon Cancer Committee White Paper: Status of CT colonography 2009. JACR. 2009;6:756–772.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Levin B, Lieberman DA, McFarland B, et al. Screening and surveillance for the early detection of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps, 2008: a joint guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58:130–160.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for colorectal cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149:627–637.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Decision memo for screening computed tomography colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer. http://www.cms.gov/mcd/viewdecisionmemo.asp?id=220 (Accessed 16 Apr 2010).

  28. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center. CT colonography for colon cancer screening. http://www.bcbs.com/blueresources/tec/vols/24/ct-colonography-virtual.html (Accessed 16 Apr 2010).

  29. Cigna medical coverage policy: colorectal cancer screening and surveillance. http://www.cigna.com/customer_care/healthcare_professional/coverage_positions/medical/mm_0083_coveragepositioncriteria_virtual_colonoscopy.pdf (Accessed 16 Apr 2010).

  30. United Healthcare. Computed tomographic colonography. https://www.unitedhealthcareonline.com/ccmcontent/ProviderII/UHC/en-US/Assets/ProviderStaticFiles/ProviderStaticFilesPdf/Tools%20and%20Resources/Policies%20and%20Protocols/Medical%20Policies/Medical%20Policies/Computed_Tomographic_Colonography.pdf (Accessed 16 Apr 2010).

  31. Knechtges PM, McFarland BG, Keysor KJ, Duszak R, Barish MA, Carlos RC, 2007. National and local trends in CT colonography reimbursement: past, present and future. J Am Coll Radiol. 776–779.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Kuhlman J. The president’s first periodic physical exam as president [memo to R. Gibbs]. The U.S. White House. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/potus_med_exam_feb2010.pdf (Accessed 17 Aug 2010).

  33. Zalis ME, Barish MA, Choi JR, et al. CT colonography reporting and data system: a consensus proposal. Radiology. 2005;236:3–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizabeth G. McFarland .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McFarland, E.G., Keysor, K.J., Vining, D.J. (2011). Virtual Colonoscopy: From Concept to Implementation. In: Dachman, A., Laghi, A. (eds) Atlas of Virtual Colonoscopy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5852-5_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5852-5_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5851-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-5852-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics