Contrast-Enhanced CT colonography

Computed tomography (CT) colonography provides both a multiplanar and endoluminal perspective of the air-filled, distended, cleansed colon, offering an alternative to traditional approaches to colorectal cancer screening. However, there are still limitations associated with CT colonography that need to be resolved, including inadequate bowel distention and poorly prepared colons that make it difficult to distinguish between stool and mucosal lesions including submerged polyps as well as flat or sessile polyps which can often be overlooked. In an effort to help distinguish the bowel wall and mural abnormalities from luminal contents, we have found the use of intravenous contrast material significantly improves both bowel wall conspicuity and reader confidence for examining the colon. In addition, we have found that the use of intravenous contrast material improves the diagnostic accuracy for the detection of medium and probably large polyps.