Nine studies ECRI Institute analyzed suggest that the majority of patients who underwent both CT colonography and colonoscopy for screening and diagnosis preferred CT colonography. However, a lack of evidence prevented ECRI Institute from determining whether offering CT colonography increases overall patient participation in colorectal cancer screening.

Both procedures involve the same patient bowel preparations. However, no sedative is administered for CT colonography. CT colonography involves taking a series of scans in a 15-20 minute procedure. Computer software translates the scans into a readable format. Because CT can only take pictures, suspicious polyps cannot be removed during this procedure. If suspicious polyps are identified, a subsequent colonoscopy should be scheduled, and if a facility cannot do it the same day as the colonography was performed, the patient must repeat the bowel preparation procedure for the follow-up colonoscopy.


For more information on ECRI Institute's Evidence Report, "Computed Tomographic (CT) Colonography for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis," included in membership to ECRI Institute's Health Technology Assessment Information Service™, or for information about other comparative effectiveness reviews and health technology assessment services, e-mail htais(at)ecri.org, call (610) 825-6000, ext. 5060, or write to us at ECRI Institute, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA, 19462.

About ECRI Institute
ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to uncover the best approaches to improving patient care. As pioneers in this science for 40 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. ECRI Institute is designated a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization and an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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