Virtual colonoscopy
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Record ID 32002000833
English
Authors' objectives:
This report aims to provide advice on the state of play of the introduction and use of virtual colonoscopy.
Authors' recommendations:
Safety: Based on the available evidence, virtual colonoscopy (VC) appears to be safe when used for diagnosing colorecal cancer in individual patients. However, its safety as a population-based screening tool has yet to be evaluated.
Training: Professional accreditation and/or training should be encouraged and endorsed by a professional body and might include one or more of the following: fifty VCs performed as a comparative study with conventional colonoscopy correlation, or fifty VC examinations performed under supervision of an accredited radiologist; - completion of an approved teaching package; - attendance at an approved teaching course or fellowship; - performance of a minimum annual number of VC examinations per year; and - development of competency in using the relevant hardware and software.
Indications: VC appears to be an appropriate test in the following clinical situations which warrant full colonic evaluation: - rectal bleeding where conventional colonoscopy is contraindicated (eg anticoagulated patients or patients with severe comorbidity/ies); - patients who are unfit for sedation; - where a preceding conventional colonoscopy was incomplete or technically difficult; - non-traversable stricture due to diverticular disease or malignancy; - obstructed colon; - megacolon; and - fistulous disease.
VC has not been adequately evaluated as a population-based screening test at this stage.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.msac.gov.au/reports.htm
Year Published:
2002
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Australia
MeSH Terms
- Colonography, Computed Tomographic
- Colonoscopy
- Colorectal Neoplasms
Contact
Organisation Name:
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Contact Address:
MSAC (MDP 107), GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Tel: +61 2 6289 6811; Fax: +61 2 6289 8799.
Contact Name:
msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Contact Email:
msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Copyright:
Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.