AuntMinnie.com Virtual Colonoscopy Insider

Dear AuntMinnie Insider,

Virtual colonoscopy providers have traditionally focused their screening efforts on the asymptomatic 50-and-older population, and for good reason. This younger, relatively healthy population has the best chance of avoiding a costly referral to conventional colonoscopy, which makes VC more cost-effective and screening more manageable for everyone.

Still, there's much to be said for the noninvasive screening of those for whom optical colonoscopy can be more burdensome and potentially riskier. Dutch researchers are finding much to cheer about in a recent study of symptomatic -- but not necessarily high-risk -- individuals, such as those with recent bleeding or known diverticulitis.

They found that most symptomatic patients didn't need follow-up colonoscopy after VC. In several cases, VC even revealed the cause of their complaints. Get the rest of the story in this issue's Insider Exclusive.

These days, of course, VC is not only looking for colorectal lesions, it's advancing research in a number of extracolonic ailments common to older patients -- for example, stone disease. Having screened large numbers of Midwesterners, Wisconsin radiologists are in a position to challenge some long-held assumptions about urolithiasis.

In computer-aided detection (CAD), a new algorithm is riding high in the performance charts, both in standalone tests in multiple lesion types, and in a rare study measuring the experience of 19 readers, which sounds like a record to us. Find out more about the University of Chicago's soon-to-be-published study by clicking here.

Another CAD developer was surprised to find that its algorithm was highly sensitive for detecting submucosal lesions. Now the goal is to tailor the product to find even more of the lesions.

Metal stents are commonly placed during colon surgery, and VC is effective for screening these individuals without harming them or the colonoscope, according to researchers in Korea.

For older patients, the results speak for themselves, say researchers who studied hundreds of them. VC is an efficient way to screen the Medicare population, one that does not unduly increase colonoscopy referrals.

Maybe the powers that be really are being harder on VC. But if the U.S. is serious about increasing screening rates, it will eventually take another look. Here's hoping you'll see how the whole thing turns out here in your Virtual Colonoscopy Digital Community.