Virtual colonoscopy as a new diagnostic tool in cancer colon

ABSTRACT

Virtual reality imaging is a new technology that combines helical computed tomography and magnetic resonance [MR] data and advanced three-dimensional graphics software to generate endoluminal perspective images of hollow organs. Computed tomography colonography [Virtual colonoscopy] is an imaging procedure in which a series of helical CT scans of the patient's colon are rendered by computer into slices that can be visualized as serially combined images to provide a three-dimentional tour of the colon. So, this technique has been evaluated, mostly conducted in diagnostic [rather than screening] setting in higher-risk patients. In this work, we try to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of virtual colonoscopy as a new modality for colorectal evaluation in patients subjected to traditional colonoscopy and double-contrast barium enema study who are diagnosed as having cancer colon and to correlate the findings of virtual colonoscopy with those of conventional colonoscopy and barium study. This work was conducted on twenty [20] patients, selected among 91 patients of different colonic illness admitted in Mansoura and Banha Gastroenterology Centers. They were thirteen [13] males and seven [7] females with age ranging form 49-75 years; mean age [59.5 +/- 8.6] years. All patients were subjected to complete medical history, thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory tests and special laboratory investigations as carcino-embryonic antigen [CEA] and occult blood in stool. Abdominal ultrasonography, barium double-contrast enema, traditional colonoscopy and virtual colonoscopy were done for all patients. Colonoscopic biopsies were obtained as routine in every case in addition to biopsy from any suspected areas or detected masses. Histopathological examination was done also for every sample. From this study, we concluded that CT colonography [Virtual Colonoscopy] is feasible for the detection of colorectal cancer with high success in sizes more than 10mm and further technical advances will improve the performance of CT colonoscopy and will allow patients available imaging modality for full structural examination of the colon