What is a CT Virtual Colonoscopy?

CT Colonography, sometimes called virtual colonoscopy, is a new alternative method to screen the colon for patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo a conventional fiberoptic colonoscopy. Virtual Colonoscopy allows doctors to look at the large bowel (colon) to detect cancers and pre-cancerous polyps. Virtual Colonoscopy is a recently developed technique that uses our ultra fast multi-slice helical CT scanner and computer virtual reality software to look inside the body without having to insert an endoscope into the colon and without having to fill the colon with liquid barium. Most patients report that the Virtual Colonoscopy technique is more comfortable than either barium enema or conventional fiberoptic colonoscopy.

Who is a candidate for a CT Colon Screen?

  • People 50 years of age or older
  • People with a family history of colon cancer or polyps
  • People over 40 with irritable bowel disease