CT colonography offers cross sectional images and allows three dimensional reconstruction. This feature results in CT colonography to be known as virtual colonoscopy. The examination encompasses the uses of contrast and insufflation of the colon. Optimum bowel distension allows the visualisation of colonic wall therefore promoting polyps’ detection. Evidently, risks …show more content…
Iodinated contrast agents is used as well as air. Evidently, barium enema and CT colonography use identical means, however, they differ on the process. Iodinated contrast is directly placed in the colon whereas in CT, it is given intravenously. The impact on diagnosis and radiation dose will be further investigated in the planned …show more content…
(Accuracy of Double-Contrast Barium Enema in Diagnosing Colorectal Polyps and Cancer) The author asserts the accuracy of barium enema depends on four factors: the bowel preparation, the radiographer’s technique, the quality control and finally the interpretation by a trained radiologist. These criteria ensure the best quality and accuracy of barium enema as well as increasing the chance of findings. The article criticises the biases found in previous researches, which influenced the data and inaccurate the research.
Missed colonic polyps on barium enema is in majority due to technical errors. The rate reaches 82% according to Thompson et al. (2006). The data sample is 288 participants which is a significant number to obtain a true representation of the situation. Most of the errors were poor bowel distension or coating. Consequently barium enema’s sensitivity highly fluctuates between researches due to more prominent potential errors that could be made. This same errors applied to CT colonoscopy would decrease its