What happens at a colon screening?
Question:
Answers:
It sounds alot scarier than it really is. It's more uncomfortable than anything. & it's very important to do.
Qoute:
What is CTC?
* CT Colonography (CTC), sometimes called "Virtual Colonoscopy," is a new non-invasive and easily tolerated technique by which patients receive a special CT (or "CAT") scan. A CT scan is an X-ray test that creates special images of the body. The images from the CT scan are transferred to a computer, which creates a detailed picture of the inside of the colon. A radiologist (a doctor who specializes in medical imaging) is then able to evaluate the colon on the computer, looking for the same polyps that can be seen with conventional endoscopy.
* Studies performed at several university hospitals around the country indicate that CTC is a safe exam that is very sensitive for detecting colon polyps. Recent data from a large screening trial indicate that CTC is as effective as conventional colonoscopy for the detection of polyps.
What should I expect?
* 3D reconstruction image of colon. Arrow indicates 1.5 cm adenoma.
3D reconstruction image
of colon.
Arrow indicates 1.5 cm adenoma.
CTC is designed to be easily tolerated by patients. The exam can be completed within twenty minutes, and most patients report that it causes little or no discomfort.
* To begin, you will lie comfortably on the CT scanner table. A very small, flexible tube is inserted into the rectum and some air is gently blown into the colon to hold it open. After the tube is inserted, your privacy will be maintained and you will be in control of the amount of air. You may experience a sense of fullness, but nearly all patients report that the air insufflation is not painful.
* It takes about two minutes to perform the actual CT scan. The first series of pictures will be taken with you lying on your stomach, followed by another set lying on your back. After the pictures are taken, the tube is removed and you will be free to go.
* Because no sedation is required for the test, you can drive or return to work after the exam is completed. After you leave, an MGH radiologist will interpret the pictures and report the results directly to your doctor.
* Most people don’t have polyps, but the smaller percentage of people who do should have them removed. If we detect a polyp on your CTC, we will inform your doctor, and he or she will likely recommend a follow-up endoscopy to have the polyp removed.
How do I prepare for my CTC exam?
* The bowel preparation that you take the night before your appointment is essential for a good exam. The colon needs to be prepared so that the radiologist can clearly see if any polyps are present. The special liquid that you drink passes through you and is not absorbed by your body. Because the liquid is not absorbed, it causes most people to have diarrhea on that evening only. On the morning of the exam, you should strictly limit your diet to clear liquids, such as tea or apple juice. Immediately following the exam, you may resume your regular diet.
end qoute
If you're going to have one, you might not want to know ahead of time...
More Questions and Answers
- do Oxy-Acetylene Torches hurt your eyes?
- does any one know if there are certian foods you can eat to make yourself more fertile? 4 men and women please
- Have Yellow Fever and Smallpox been eradicated?
- Does anyone have long toes ?
- white stuff on my tongue?
- if I have earned a degree in medicine in another country how can I get accredited in the United States?
- I wasn't going to ask this question. But who knows anything about gallbladders?
- I m in a desert,which cream is very useful for summer?