Virtual Colonoscopy
Posted on May 15, 2006
Virtual Colonoscopy was developed to address the colorectal screening needs of patients unable to undergo a traditional colonoscopy exam. Virtual colonoscopies are less invasive than the regular colonoscopy exam and have been shown to be as reliable as traditional exams in their detection and screening for colorectal cancer.
Patients undergo a bowel prep prior to the Virtual Colonoscopy. For the exam, a small tip is inserted into the rectum to gently inflate the colon with air for optimum visualization. The exam is performed on a CT scanner with specialized 3D virtual imaging software. The patient is scanned cross-sectionally with the resulting images reconstructed to provide views of the entire inside of the colon.
Note: At this time, this exam is not covered by all insurances. In patients meeting a certain criteria, this procedure may be covered. Please call your referring physician's office or our scheduling office if you have any questions. For patients wishing to undergo a Virtual Colonoscopy without insurance coverage, payment is expected in full at the time of the service.
Click the 'play' button to see an actual virtual colonoscopy exam