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Virtual colonoscopy (VC) uses x rays and computers to produce two- and three-dimensional images of the colon (large intestine) from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way to the lower end of the small intestine and display them on a screen. The procedure is used to diagnose colon and bowel disease, including polyps, diverticulosis, and cancer. VC can be performed with computed tomography (CT),

While preparations for virtual colonoscopy vary, you will usually be asked to take laxatives or other oral agents at home the day before the procedure to clear stool from your colon. You may also be asked to use a suppository to cleanse your rectum of any remaining fecal matter. Virtual colonoscopy takes place in the radiology department of a hospital or medical center. The examination takes

Virtual colonoscopy is more comfortable than conventional colonoscopy for some people because it does not use a colonoscope. As a result, no sedation is needed, and you can return to your usual activities or go home after the procedure without the aid of another person. Virtual colonoscopy provides clearer, more detailed images than a conventional x ray using a barium enema, sometimes called a

The doctor cannot take tissue samples or remove polyps during virtual colonoscopy, so a conventional colonoscopy must be performed if abnormalities are found. Also, virtual colonoscopy does not show as much detail as a conventional colonoscopy, so polyps smaller than 10 millimeters in diameter may not show up on the images. source:

American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 4900-B South 31st Street Arlington, VA 22206-1656 Phone: (703) 820-7400 Fax: (703) 931-4520 Email: info@ccfa.org Internet: www.acg.gi.org International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) P.O. Box 170864 Milwaukee, WI 53217 Phone: 1-888-964-2001 or (414) 964-1799 Fax: (414) 964-7176