Virtual colonoscopy vs optical colonoscopy.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: The high prevalence of colon carcinoma combined with the low compliance of currently recommended screening guidelines explains the continued high mortality rate of colon cancer. Utilizing a strategy of virtual colonoscopy (VC) in asymptomatic patients over 50, with optical colonoscopy (OC) follow-up for removal of detected adenomatous polyps may result in lowering the colon cancer death rate. However, the screening potential of VC has not yet been widely recognized. Debates and doubts of its potential benefits have been frequently seen in the literature since VC was first reported in 1994. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: This article reviews the currently available screening options and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: VC has many advantages over the existing screening options and its several drawbacks can be mitigated so that it would become a valuable screening modality. A strategy that utilizes VC for population-based screening over the age of 50 and OC for screening high-risk individuals and those with positive VC findings would result in a significantly reduced rate of colon cancer deaths.