Virtual colonoscopy misses some cancers
Two years ago, Katie Couric of NBC’s "Today" show had a virtual colonoscopy on television. But the screening technique for colon cancer may not be ready for prime time.
A study published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association reports that virtual colonoscopy missed two out of eight active cancers in a study of 600 patients.
The patients in the study had both a conventional colonoscopy and a virtual colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy uses X-rays and computer imaging to produce pictures of the colon. It is not as invasive as conventional colonoscopy and a previous study suggested it was almost as accurate.
The new study suggests that techniques and training need to be improved before virtual colonoscopy is widely used.
Posted by Carla :: 02:00 PM Apr 13
