Colonography

Colonography has earned the nickname of virtual colonoscopy because the procedure screens for colon cancer (like a colonoscopy) but uses a noninvasive computed tomography (CT) scan instead of the minimally invasive scope procedure. The experienced team at Invision Sally Jobe offers colonography procedures at their offices located in Littleton, Aurora, Denver, Parker, Golden, Greenwood Village, and Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. Whether you need routine cancer screening or your doctor needs intestinal imaging to diagnose the cause of your symptoms, don’t wait to connect with the team. Call Invision Sally Jobe at 720-493-3700 to schedule a colonography screening today.

What is a colonography?

A Colonography is a noninvasive CT scan to screen for colon cancer and other problems in your large intestine (colon). A CT scan is a specialized X-ray technique that produces highly detailed 3-D images of the tissues inside your colon.

By comparison, a colonoscopy is a minimally invasive colon cancer screening procedure in which your physician guides a slim, flexible scope through your anus and large intestine. The scope sends images to a monitor, and your physician visually examines the inner wall of your colon.

What are the advantages of a colonography?

A colonography has several advantages over a colonoscopy. Because a colonography is noninvasive, you don’t need sedation (like you do for a colonoscopy), allowing you to drive and return to work right after your CT scan.

A CT colonography also reveals problems in parts of the colon that are hard or impossible to see during a colonoscopy. However, if a colonography reveals polyps (growths capable of turning into colon cancer), you will need a colonoscopy to remove them.

When would I need a colonography?

The American Cancer Society recommends screening at age 45 for people with an average risk of developing colon cancer. 

You may need screening at an earlier age if you have any of the following:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Family or personal history of colon polyps
• Family or personal history of colon cancer
• Personal history of abdominal radiation treatment
• Inherited condition increasing your risk for colon cancer 

Your physician may recommend a colonography instead of a colonoscopy if you’re at risk of bleeding or have a bowel blockage.

The Invision Sally Jobe team also uses the colonography procedure to diagnose other problems in your intestines, such as diverticulitis.

What happens before and during a colonography?

Your technologist gives you instructions for cleaning your colon before your scheduled colonography. Your intestine must be free of waste to get a clear image of the tissues.

You lie on a bed, which carries you into a round opening in the center of the CT machine. You only need to stay still while the machine takes the CT scan. 

Your technologist may ask you to change your position for a second pass through the scanner. Your entire colonography takes about 15 minutes.

Call the Invision Sally Jobe Patient Access Team at 720-493-3700 to schedule a colonography screening today.