'Virtual' Colonoscopy an Effective Option: Study

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In the near future, doctors will need to screen patients using both approaches, he said. "The bottom line is that there's a huge number of people who should be screened but aren't -- 40 million people over age of 50 aren't screened. We're going to need both modalities to make an impact on this number."

Still, there are plenty of unanswered questions, said Dr. David Weinberg, director of gastroenterology at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

For one, he asked, "what does this do to overall colon cancer risk?" The study didn't look at that question, he said, and it's premature to declare that virtual colonoscopy should be a routine first-line screening test.

It's also unclear whether the new test is cost-effective or will be covered by insurance. Still, "it has potential to be useful because patients, when they know nothing about either, think they will prefer virtual colonoscopy," he said. That could lead to more of these potentially lifesaving screenings, Weinberg said.

But once they know the details -- particularly about how laxatives must still be used -- fewer people may think there's a huge difference between the two approaches, he said.

More information

For more about colorectal cancer screening options, visit the American Cancer Society.