What is a CT or “virtual” colonoscopy?
A CT colonoscopy is a CT scan of your abdomen after the colon has been gently filled with air. The scan is then sent to a computer workstation where the data is analyzed.

Must I have a “clean” colon?
Yes. The bowel must be free of fecal residue (stool) which can be confused with growths such as polyps and cancers.

What is the prep I must take?
You will use a Prep called the Fleets Prep Kit number 1. This uses a liquid diet, a solution called Phospho Soda, Dulcolax tablets and a suppository to clean your bowel. This prep is less demanding than most used for traditional colonoscopies. It is available at your local pharmacy.

Does the test have any risk?
Essentially, no. As opposed to traditional colonoscopies, where there is a 1 in 1000 risk of perforating the colon, CT colonoscopy has no such risk. The only risk to the test is from the small amount of radiation from the scan.

Must I be sedated?
No. You do not need sedation for this exam. Most traditional colonoscopies take the better part of a day, allowing for recovery from sedation. You can drive yourself to and from a virtual colonoscopy!

Is the test painful?
Most people describe the test as mildly uncomfortable. This is due to the need to insufflate air into the colon. Most studies in which patients have had both traditional and virtual colonoscopies show people rate the virtual exam as much less uncomfortable than the traditional study. As noted below, the exam is rather quick!

How long does the test take?
The actual scans are about 20 seconds each. The total time you will be on the CT table is about 10 minutes, including set-up time. You will only have your bowel filled with air for about 1-2 minutes and then you can go to the bathroom.

Must I take off from work for the exam?
No. You will not be sedated, so you can go to work. You can start your prep at home the night before the exam rather than going on a limited diet the day before the exam. We use the 18 hour prep, which starts at noon the day before your exam to minimize your inconvienence.

Are there any other benefits to this exam compared to standard invasive colonoscopies?
Yes. Because we image not just the colon we can see other abdominal organs. Early kidney cancers, liver cancers, kidney stones, and other diseases can be found. Occasionally, incidental findings that are not clear, such as renal cysts, may require another test to better define them such as an ultrasound or an MRI scan.

How accurate is the test?
This is a very difficult question to answer. CT colonography is an evolving technology. Most recent published studies with modern multislice equipment such as we have at SJRA show detection rates (sensitivity) of 90-95% for polyps greater than 1 cm in size. This is critical, since polyps smaller than this have a much lesser chance of harboring cancer or developing into a cancer; however, no test, including a traditional colonoscopy is 100% accurate, even with the best equipment in the best of hands.

Is the test covered by insurance?
Presently, no.

What happens if the test is positive?
Generally, you will need to consider a traditional colonoscopy or a flexible sigmoidoscopy depending on the location of the polyp.

Why SJRA?
Because we commit to the most current equipment. Our preferred relationship with GE Medical Systems allows us to have the most advanced computers for analyzing your colon, including the revolutionary “virtual dissection” software.

Which test is right for me?
We hope the above overview is helpful to you. Because SJRA wants you to be educated to the facts and to make an informed decision, we have provided the following chart on CT colonography and traditional colonoscopy for your comparison. Please feel free to talk to any of our Radiologists at any time if you have any questions.