2020 Volume 58 Issue 2 Pages 104-111
OBJECTIVES: Total colonoscopy (TCS) is the first choice for workup examinations of a person with positive fecal occult blood test. There are only few endoscopists in rural areas and remote islands. Therefore, we cannot offer sufficient workup examinations for local inhabitants. In areas where there are difficulties in TCS, we inspect whether CT colonography (CTC), as a workup examination, is equal to TCS.
METHODS: The results from people with positive fecal occult blood test in two medical offices were analyzed from April 2014 to March 2018. Lesion discovery rate, cancer discovery rate, positive predictive value (PPV), and the rate of accidental troubles in 169 cases who received CTC and 273 patients who received TCS were compared.
RESULTS: In the case of CTC, we had lesions with a diameter of more than 6 mm pointed out in 58 cases (34.3%). Forty-seven cases (81%) shifted to TCS, and the PPV was 93.6%. There were three cases of colon cancer. In the case of TCS in the hospital, we had lesions with a diameter of more than 6 mm pointed out in 70 cases (25.6%). There were 11 cases of colon cancer. The lesion discovery rate, the cancer discovery rate, and the rate of accidental troubles did not exhibit a significant difference between the groups.
CONCLUSION: In areas where there are difficulties in TCS, CTC can be used as a workup examination.
