virtual-colonoscopy

A and Colonoscopy is what the doctor prescribes when he wants to take a look inside your colon. The colon is about 3 to 5 feet long and for a traditional colonoscopy the doctor would use an instrument called colonoscope. It is essentially a thin, long and flexible flexible fibre optic camera that allows the doctor to see the inside of the colon to look for any cancers or precancerous polyps. A Colonoscopy is used to screen for colorectal cancers and to investigate other diseases of the colon.The colonoscopy procedure requires sedation or analgesia to make it relatively comfortable. But the fact remains that traditional colonoscopy involves using varying degrees of force to push the colonoscope through the intestine. Though excess pain is rare, patients often report a feeling of pressure, cramping or bloating throughout the procedure. Though this is how most colonoscopies are still done, it is possible that this method will soon take a back seat to another procedure called virtual colonoscopy. Here, a CTA scan is used to make dramatic 3-D images of the colon. It is an x-ray procedure and almost as good as a traditional colonoscopy to detect polyps. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study which showed that virtual colonoscopy is more than 90% accurate in detecting large polyps which may be reason for concern. However, The Journal of the American Medical Association published a different finding stating that the accuracy of virtual colonoscopy is only about 55%. Though there was a difference in the technology used for both the studies, such conflict in research findings suggest that virtual colonoscopy needs some more research before it can be completely integrated into modern medicine to replace traditional colonoscopy.For patients who wish to spare themselves the discomfort of a traditional colonoscopy however, virtual colonoscopy is still an available option. The best results are obtained when the patient drinks a barium contrast first. A medical center which has the latest 3-D imaging devices and will do the barium contrast procedure is your best bet. Insurance does not cover the cost of virtual colonoscopy, so as of now it is best suited for individuals who can afford the fee and want to avoid the traditional colonoscopy.