Studies show CTC is more effective than traditional tests for bowel cancer
Recent studies have shown that, when compared with the conventional x-ray test of barium enema, a CT colonography (CTC) is more effective when an examination of bowel cancer symptoms is required.
In a trial that included more than 3800 patients who were given either CTC or barium enema, results showed that CTC was the more effective test at finding bowel cancers and precancerous polyps.
However, due to the capacity of the scan to detect relatively insignificant findings, guidelines are needed for CTCs to avoid unnecessary follow-up testing.
For example, in a second trial involving 1600 patients who were given either a CTC or a colonoscopy, only 8% of those who had colonoscopy required follow-up tests. Of the patients who received CTC, 30% had follow-up testing, and almost one-third of the follow-up tests were related to small, low cancer risk polyps.
Furthermore, CTC is a less invasive test and does not require sedation. University College London’s Professor Jane Wardle led studies examining patient experiences associated with the 3 tests and says, “We have shown that people prefer CTC to both barium enema and colonoscopy. This research should mean that patients with bowel cancer symptoms can get the best test for them.”
The studies are published in the Lancet.
Source: Cancer Research UK.