CT colonography standards

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) colonography is the established successor to the barium enema for the detection of colonic neoplasia due to superior performance and patient experience. Consequently, CT colonography is widely disseminated across Western populations and increasingly provided by both subspecialist and general radiologists alike. As a result, CT colonography is now part of the core training curriculum for radiology in the UK. However, study data shows wide performance gaps between centres and between individuals of differing experience, which is perhaps unsurprising given the complexity of the CT colonography technique and interpretation. This article summarizes the background, evolution and recommendations of the CT colonography standards document (Appendix) developed by the International CT Colonography Standards Collaboration, which included highly experienced radiologists, radiographers, gastroenterologists, and screening experts. These standards are intended to guide and support radiology teams across the world by promoting methods for improving the quality of CT colonography technique and the patient experience.