Advantages & Disadvantages

Patients do not require anaesthesia or sedation and can return home on their own or get back to work immediately after the test

The images provided are clearer and more detailed compared to Double Contrast Barium Enema

The procedure takes less time than Traditional Colonoscopy or Double Contrast Barium Enema

This procedure can be used on a bowel narrowed or obstructed due to inflammation or to an abnormal growth.

Virtual colonoscopy is the preferred total colonic imaging examination after incomplete screening or diagnostic traditional colonoscopy since it is sometimes difficult to visualize the entire colon with the traditional colonoscopy. As well, for patients who cannot safely discontinue anticoagulation therapy and for patients who refuse endoscopy, the virtual colonoscopy is a valid alternative

Unlike traditional colonoscopy, where you are limited to only visualize the colon, virtual colonoscopy provides you with an added benefit allowing you to see beyond the colon. Because the whole abdomen, pelvis and lower lung fields are scanned, virtual colonoscopy provides additional views of the adjacent organs such as the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, the kidneys, the prostate, the uterus, the abdominal aorta etc and in approximately 10% of cases, the virtual colonoscopy enables early detection of other conditions unrelated to colorectal cancer (kidney cancer, cancer of the lungs, cysts in the liver etc)