Colorectal polyp detection with virtual colonoscopy (computed tomographic colonography); the reliability of the method.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to compare the reliability of virtual colonoscopy with conventional colonoscopy in detection of colorectal polyps.

Methodology: Between November 1997 and February 2000, 23 patients (14 males, 9 females) aged 43-86 years (mean: 63) with colorectal polyps who underwent colonoscopy in our endoscopy unit, were referred for virtual colonoscopy. The colon was distended with an enema tube for rectal insufflation and subsequently was scanned by helical CT (Toshiba X-vision) using the following parameters: KV 120, mAs 200, table feed 5 mm/sec, slice thickness 5 mm and reconstruction intervals 2.