| Theme |
Strategy of colon cancer screening |
| Title |
Virtual colonoscopy and virtual enema using MDCT for the screening of colorectal cancer |
| Author |
Mitsuru Matsuki |
Department of Radiology, Osaka Medical College |
| Author |
Ichiro Hirata |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College |
| Author |
Takashi Izumiya |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College |
| Author |
Norihiro Hamamoto |
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College |
| Author |
Isamu Narabayashi |
Department of Radiology, Osaka Medical College |
| [ Summary ] |
In recent years, MDCT scanners, which use a larger number of detectors than single helical CT scanners, have enabled the collection of a considerable amount of thin-slice data within a short time frame. The increased spatial resolution has facilitated three-dimensional evaluation of the digestive tract on the lumen side. In Europe and the United States, colorectal cancer screening with CT colonography (CTC) such as virtual enemas and colonoscopy, which targets detection of protruding lesions, derived from the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, is applied in clinical practice. However, in Japan, CTC is not widespread in clinical practice, because the visualization of flat and depressed type lesions, with malignant potential, are not examined and reading using CTC is time consuming. Therefore, further studies, in regard to the visualization of the flat and depressed type lesions, are required. It is speculated that the intravenous injection of a contrast medium may shorten the reading time because of enhancement of the lesions. Moreover, we think that contrast enhanced CT examinations can play a role in whole body screening. |