Which Screening Test for Colon Cancer?

The standard screening exam for colon cancer uses a flexible endoscope inserted in the rectum to look for early signs of disease. A newer ‘virtual colonoscopy’ test is faster and less invasive, but so far not as accurate.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

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Durham, N.C. -- Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths. The best way to detect colon cancer is with a colonoscopy, a screening exam that involves inserting a flexible, lighted tube through the rectum up to the colon and viewing images on a monitor. A newer option is virtual colonoscopy, which combines a CAT scan and computer software to generate 2-D or 3-D images of the colon. Although virtual colonoscopy is faster and non-invasive, most patients choose the standard test. Dr. Don Rockey, a specialist in gastroenterology at Duke University Medical center, says conventional screening is probably still the right choice for most patients. “It’s clear that colonoscopy is very accurate. What is not quite so clear is the precise accuracy of the virtual colonoscopy. For patients who are concerned about potential side effects, don’t like to have IVs, don’t want to have sedative medications, then a virtual colonoscopy is an option, understanding that it may not be quite as accurate. That may change. Virtual colonoscopy is undergoing great changes, and I expect that it will become better.” I’m Cabell Smith for MedMinute.