TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of virtual colonoscopy in the detection of colorectal polyps and masses
T2 - Rationale for proper study design
AU - Pineau, Benoit C.
AU - Paskett, Electra D.
AU - Chen, G. John
AU - Durkalski, Valerie L.
AU - Espeland, Mark A.
AU - Vining, David J.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background: Colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality, is a preventable malignancy in many cases. Despite the availability of several screening modalities, compliance with screening recommendations remains unacceptably low. Virtual colonoscopy is a novel, minimally-invasive technique with the potential to increase colorectal cancer screening rates, but its effectiveness must first be validated. Published studies comparing virtual colonoscopy to conventional colonoscopy have reported varying results. These discrepancies may be attributed to differences in bowel preparation and scanning techniques, as well as errors in endoscopic lesion measurement, endoscopic colonic segmental localization, and the ability of conventional colonoscopy to actually detect lesions. These methodological issues can affect scientific results and ultimately affect the public's perception of this emerging technique. Aim: The goal of this report is to expose existing methodological shortcomings and propose solutions incorporated in this study design. This article describes the rationale, study design, and outcome definitions of a single-center, blinded, direct comparative trial aiming at assessing the ability of virtual colonoscopy to detect colorectal polyps and masses relative to the criterion standard, conventional colonoscopy. Design Features: Bowel preparation was standardized using oral sodium phosphate lavage, orally administered iodinated contrast, and controlled colonic insufflation. Segmental unblinding allowed a second-look when results were discrepant and polyp matching was performed using an algorithm based on segmental localization and lesion size determination. Conclusions: This methodology could be applied to other studies assessing the accuracy of virtual colonoscopy in order to have uniformity of results.
AB - Background: Colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality, is a preventable malignancy in many cases. Despite the availability of several screening modalities, compliance with screening recommendations remains unacceptably low. Virtual colonoscopy is a novel, minimally-invasive technique with the potential to increase colorectal cancer screening rates, but its effectiveness must first be validated. Published studies comparing virtual colonoscopy to conventional colonoscopy have reported varying results. These discrepancies may be attributed to differences in bowel preparation and scanning techniques, as well as errors in endoscopic lesion measurement, endoscopic colonic segmental localization, and the ability of conventional colonoscopy to actually detect lesions. These methodological issues can affect scientific results and ultimately affect the public's perception of this emerging technique. Aim: The goal of this report is to expose existing methodological shortcomings and propose solutions incorporated in this study design. This article describes the rationale, study design, and outcome definitions of a single-center, blinded, direct comparative trial aiming at assessing the ability of virtual colonoscopy to detect colorectal polyps and masses relative to the criterion standard, conventional colonoscopy. Design Features: Bowel preparation was standardized using oral sodium phosphate lavage, orally administered iodinated contrast, and controlled colonic insufflation. Segmental unblinding allowed a second-look when results were discrepant and polyp matching was performed using an algorithm based on segmental localization and lesion size determination. Conclusions: This methodology could be applied to other studies assessing the accuracy of virtual colonoscopy in order to have uniformity of results.
KW - Clinical trial
KW - Polyp matching
KW - Study design
KW - Virtual colonoscopy
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U2 - 10.1385/ijgc:30:3:133
DO - 10.1385/ijgc:30:3:133
M3 - Article
C2 - 12540025
AN - SCOPUS:0035785558
SN - 0169-4197
VL - 30
SP - 133
EP - 140
JO - International Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer
JF - International Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer
IS - 3
ER -