Role of virtual colonoscopy following incomplete optical colonoscopy: our experience

AIM: To evaluate the role of Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) in patients who failed an Optical Colonoscopy (OC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixtyeight patients (48 female, 20 male; mean age 60,4 years) with a previous incomplete OC underwent CTC. RESULTS: A complete CTC examination was achieved in all 68 patients. We classified the detected polyps in relation to the diameter in small (<5mm), medium (from 5 to 10mm) and large (>10mm). In 19 patients (27,9%) any pathological finding was observed. In 11 patients (16,2%) one or more polyps not detected with the previous OC have been found.Only in one case the number of detected polyps corresponded to the OC findings. In 18 (26,4%) patients a diverticular disease was observed, and in 15 of them it was diagnosed by the previous OC (26,5%). In 8 patients (11,8%) the diverticular disease was associated to the presence of polyps. In 12 patients (17,6%) colonic stenosis or masses have been observed. CONCLUSIONS: CTC was performed in all patients with a previous incomplete OC, obtaining a complete and accurate visualization of the colon whithout any patient's discomfort.