Abstract
Objective: To assess the positive predictive value (PPV) for polyps ≥ 5mm detected in CT colonography (CTC) in routine clinical practice and evaluate patient acceptance of it.
Subjects and Methods: Nine hundred ninety four average-risk patients were enrolled in the study. All patients in whom a ≥ 5 mm polyp had been diagnosed in CTC or who had been positive in a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and then underwent post-CTC colonoscopy for diagnosis were evaluated by PPV. Patient acceptance was assessed with questionnaires.
Results: Per-polyp PPVs for detected polyps of ≥ 5mm and ≥ 10mm were 89.6% (43/48) and 94.4% (17/18), respectively. Regarding rates of discomfort for CTC and colonoscopy, the rate for more discomfort in colonoscopy than in CTC was 40.8% (248/608), 27.1% (165/608) were indifferent about this, and the rate for more discomfort in CTC than in colonoscopy was 32.1% (195/608). As for future colonic examination preference, 31.5% (191/607) preferred CTC, 28.2% (171/607) were indifferent and 40.4% (245/607) preferred colonoscopy.
Conclusions: Although CTC has a high PPV for the detection of polyps ≥ 5mm in average-risk patients, further study is required to improve patient acceptance.
