Abstract
CT colonography has emerged as the investigation of choice for suspected colorectal cancer in patients when a colonoscopy in incomplete, is deemed high risk or is declined because of patient preference. Unlike a traditional colonoscopy, it frequently reveals extracolonic as well as colonic findings. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics and potential significance of extracolonic findings on CT colonography within our own institution. A retrospective review was performed of 502 patients who underwent CT colonography in our institution between January 1, 2010 and January 4, 2015. Of 502 patients, 60.63% had at least one extracolonic finding. This was close to other similar-sized studies (Kumar et al. Radiology 236(2):519–526, 2005). However, our rate of E4 findings was significantly higher than that reported in larger studies at 5.3%(Pooler et al. AJR 206:313–318, 2016). The difference may be explained by our combination of symptomatic/screening patients or by the age and gender distribution of our population. Our study lends support to the hypothesis that CT colonography may be particularly useful in identifying clinically significant extracolonic findings in symptomatic patients. CT colonography may allow early identification of extracolonic malignancies and life-threatening conditions such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm at a preclinical stage when they are amenable to medical or surgical intervention. However, extracolonic findings may also result in unnecessary investigations for subsequently benign findings.
Highlights
Colonoscopy is the first-line investigation for suspected colorectal cancer
It was accepted as a screening tool for colorectal cancer by the American Cancer
A retrospective analysis was conducted of all CT colonography studies performed in our institution from January 1, 2010 to January 4, 2015 using the picture archiving and
Summary
Colonoscopy is the first-line investigation for suspected colorectal cancer. For those patients in whom a colonoscopy is incomplete, is deemed high risk or is declined because of patient preference, CT colonography (CTC) is the investigation of choice.CT colonography has several advantages over a traditional colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is the first-line investigation for suspected colorectal cancer. For those patients in whom a colonoscopy is incomplete, is deemed high risk or is declined because of patient preference, CT colonography (CTC) is the investigation of choice. CT colonography has several advantages over a traditional colonoscopy. It allows a complete examination of the abdomen and pelvis. It is a relatively safe investigation that is well tolerated by most patients. It was accepted as a screening tool for colorectal cancer by the American Cancer
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