Patient Preparation for CT Colonography

  • J. Yee
Chapter
Part of the Medical Radiology book series (MEDRAD)

CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy has increasing support as a screening tool for colorectal polyps and carcinoma. This radiologic examination uses the patient data acquired from a helical CT scanner and combines it with computer software that post-processes the data to generate both two- and three-dimensional images of the colon for analysis. However, before the patient undergoes the CT scan, there are initial steps that must be taken to help obtain images of the colon that are of high diagnostic quality. The key element for a high-quality CT colonography examination is a well-cleansed and well-distended colon (Figs. 5.1 and 5.2). When the colon contains residual fl uid and/or stool, this can cause false-negative and false-positive results. Residual material in the colon will also limit the diagnostic usefulness of computer-aided detection algorithms. If the colon is poorly distended, this too can lead to lesions being missed, and an area of collapse may simulate the apple-core appearance of a carcinoma. Patients are typically scanned in two opposing positions (supine and prone) so that portions of the colon that have residual material or poor distension in one position may be reevaluated in the opposing view. CT colonog-raphy may also be successfully performed using reduced bowel preparation with the aid of fecal and fl uid tagging (Taylor et al. 2008). Investigation is currently under way evaluating the use of non-cathartic protocols in combination with fecal and fl uid tagging for CT colonography.

Keywords

Polyethylene Glycol Colonic Distension Magnesium Citrate Oral Sodium Phosphate Antispasmodic Agent 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • J. Yee
    • 1
  1. 1.University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoUSA

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