Review
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2008; 14(6): 853-863
Published online Feb 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.853
Colonography by CT, MRI and PET/CT combined with conventional colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening and staging
Long Sun, Hua Wu, Yong-Song Guan
Long Sun, Hua Wu, Minnan PET Center, The First Hospital of Xiamen, Fujian Medical University, Xiamen 316003, Fujian Province, China
Yong-Song Guan, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, 610041; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Gaopeng Street, Keyuan Road 4, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Correspondence to: Yong-Song Guan, West China Hospital of Sichuan University; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Gaopeng Street, Keyuan Road 4, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. yongsongguan@yahoo.com
Telephone: +86-28-81812787
Fax: +86-28-85538359
Received: September 14, 2007
Revised: November 1, 2007
Published online: February 14, 2008
Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cancer killer worldwide. But the disease is both curable and preventable at an early stage. Regular CRC cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from CRC. However, the importance of large-scale screening is only now starting to be appreciated. This article reviews a variety of imaging procedures available for detecting ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), polyps and CRC in their early stage and also presents details on various screening options. Detecting, staging and re-staging of patients with CRC also require multimodality, multistep imaging approaches. Staging and re-staging with conventional colonoscopy (CC), computer tomography colonography (CTC), magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) and positron emission tomography/computer tomography colonography (PET/CTC) are of paramount importance in determining the most appropriate therapeutic method and in predicting the risk of tumor recurrence and overall prognosis. The advantages and limitations of these modalities are also discussed.

Keywords: Colon polyps; Colorectal cancer; Conventional Colonoscopy; Virtual colonoscopy; Computer tomography colonography; Magnetic resonance colonography; Positron emission tomography/computer tomography colonography