Diagnostic performance of virtual colonoscopy

Abstract

The most important diagnostic performance of virtual colonoscopy is the ability to detect colorectal polyps. However, its diagnostic value for evaluation of patients undergoing incomplete colonoscopy and the ability to detect unsuspected extracolonic findings are also important diagnostic features. Because of important differences between published patient populations, a meta-analysis combining data from different studies would not provide a reliable statistic. The by-patient sensitivity for patients with polyps 10 mm and larger ranges from 75% to 100% in most series and was 100% in the two largest series published to date. By-polyp sensitivity for polyps 10 mm and larger ranges from 50% to 100% and was 89–90% in the two largest series. Detailed data on smaller polyps are summarized. Virtual colonoscopy is an excellent test for evaluation of patients with incomplete colonoscopies. The incidence of significant extracolonic findings is 7–13%.