Colonic polyp detection: role of roentgenography and colonoscopy

In order to determine the relative yields of colonoscopic and radiologic examinations of the colon, the following guidelines are suggested: (a) prospective data collection; (b) a standard, effective colon cleansing regimen; (c) colonoscopic and radiologic examiners of comparable expertise; (d) examiners should be unaware of each other's findings; (e) a suitable method for demonstrating false-negative findings and for resolving conflicting findings between the two examinations; and (f) indexing of the study findings as to lesion size, lesion location, quality of colon cleansing, and examiner's level of confidence. The two examinations should be used as complementary diagnostic procedures.