Study finds that ’virtual colonoscopy’ using CT scans is more effective for investigating patients with possible bowel cancer than traditional tests.
Based on a news release by Cancer Research UK A less invasive 'virtual colonoscopy' using CT scans is more effective for investigating patients with possible bowel cancer than the traditional X-ray test, according to a new study. The researchers say CT colonography (CTC) should now be considered alongside the 'gold standard' of colonoscopy. However, they caution that guidelines are needed before this type of scan is used more widely because its ability to detect relatively unimportant issues can result in patients being referred for unnecessary follow-up tests. The research was conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and University College London (UCL) with funding from the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme , Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. In the first of the two trials published in The Lancet today, more than 3,800 patients were given either a CTC or the traditional test, a barium enema. The researchers showed that CTC was more effective than barium enema at finding bowel cancers and precancerous polyps. Steve Halligan of UCL, the joint-lead researcher, said: "Our trial shows that CTC is more accurate than barium enema.
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