Who Should Have a Virtual Colonoscopy?

Average Risk Patients: The recommended age to begin colon cancer screening for "average risk" individuals is at age 50. For the average risk patient, the data shows that 92% of subjects who have a virtual colonoscopy require no additional testing or polyp removal.

If you are concerned about cancers and other pathology or diseases outside of the colon, virtual colonoscopy provides a look at other organs and can identify extra colonic findings such as live, kidney, aortic, or ovarian abnormalities.

Higher Risk Patients: People with a family history of colon cancer or other factors that might increase their risk should have the initial colon screen 5 to 10 years sooner.

If you have a condition that would make the presence of a polyp very likely, or if you have symptoms of inflammatory disease, you would be advised to have a conventional colonoscopy so that any significant polyps could be removed or a biopsy taken at the time of the procedure.

Patients on Certain Medications: For the person on Coumadin or other anticoagulants, virtual colonoscopy does not require that these medications be stopped for the procedure.

Patients with a Failed Conventional Colonoscopy: Virtual colonoscopy is a good choice for the person for whom the gastroenterologist was unable to complete the conventional colonoscopy due to the inability to advance the tube.

Convenience and/or Avoidance Issues: For the 60% of the population who have just never gotten around to having their colonoscopy, or those who do not have the time to give up an entire day or two for a screening procedure, virtual colonoscopy provides an ideal option.

Why Get a Colonoscopy?