Virtual Colonoscopy Shows Promise

A screening test called CT colonography is almost as good as identifying possible cancers as traditional colonoscopy is. Now, a study has found that people undergoing CT colonography may not need to take laxatives the day before. Harvard researchers did the study. It involved 605 people. Each had a CT scan without laxatives. About 5 weeks later, each had a traditional colonoscopy. The tests were equally accurate at finding polyps that were at least 1 centimeter in diameter. A polyp is a growth in the colon. Larger ones often become cancerous. Colonoscopy was better at finding smaller polyps, however. These also may become cancerous, and are usually removed during a colonoscopy. And if something suspicious is found during a CT scan, the person would then need a colonoscopy, too. The study was published in the May 15 Annals of Internal Medicine. CBS News reported on it.