What is the difference between virtual colonoscopy and optical colonoscopy?
Virtual colonoscopy is an abdominal CT scan where “pictures” of the abdomen are taken and then the images are reconstructed into a 3D replica of the colon. The images are then read by a trained radiologist to look for pre-cancerous polyps or abnormalities inside and outside your colon. For the optical colonoscopy exam (also known as “conventional” or “traditional” colonoscopy), a flexible tube that has a camera at the end is inserted into the rectum and manually manipulated by a gastroenterologist (GI doctor) all the way to the beginning of the colon called the cecum. On the way back from the cecum, the GI doctor slowly pulls out and looks for polyps. If polyps are found, these can be removed using available tools through the flexible tube. Please note that only about 15% of the screening population will actually require removal of pre-cancerous polyps.
