Virtual Colonoscopy: Making Cancer Screenings More Comfortable
Many people procrastinate receiving their colon screenings because they dread the discomfort associated with traditional colonoscopy. But new technology allows individuals to be screened for colon cancer and other life-threatening concerns safely and comfortably by undergoing a virtual colonoscopy.
Virtual colonoscopy is essentially a CT scan of the body, focused on the lower intestinal area. As with other CT scans, patients will lie on a table and the CT scanning machine takes images of the patient's body. The images are then combined by a computer to create a 3-D rendering of the intestinal area, allowing physicians to examine the area for polyps with minimal invasion to the patient. There are many benefits to virtual colonoscopy:
- Easier for patients to tolerate, especially elderly patients who are ill or frail, since no anesthesia, pain relievers, or recovery time is needed
- Physicians have a view of the body outside of the colon, allowing them to discover other major medical problems that may exist
- Most patients will not have any areas of concern, and can be spared having to undergo the more invasive traditional colonoscopy
Virtual colonoscopy provides a lower-cost, effective alternative to traditional colonoscopy for many people. Learning more about the benefits of virtual colonoscopy has given many patients the confidence to get screened for colon cancer, one of the most treatable and curable cancers if diagnosed early.
