Computed tomography and magnetic resonance colonography

Abstract

IntroductionColon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the western world. 1 Several risk factors predispose a person to develop colon cancer. 2 Adenomatous colorectal polyps, which are found in 30-50% of Americans more than 50 years old, are recognized as important precursors of malignancy. Probably most of the invasive colon carcinomas arise from polyps. An early polyp removal has been shown to reduce mortality from colon cancer by 25-50%. For this reason the early detection of these polyps and their complete removal is a recognized strategy for the prevention of colon cancer. 3,4 So far no single method for an early diagnosis of colon polyps or colon cancer including faecal occult blood testing (FOBT), proctosigmoidoscopy, double contrast barium enema (fluoroscopy) or conventional endoscopy offers high sensi- Radiol Oncol 2007; 41(1): 1-12. doi:10.2478/v10019-007-