AuntMinnie.com Virtual Colonoscopy Radiology Insider

Dear AuntMinnie Insider,

The issuance of Category III CPT codes for virtual colonoscopy are an important boost for the exam that will produce better research data while supporting VC’s eventual splash into the medical mainstream.

Dear AuntMinnie Insider,

The new Category III CPT codes for virtual colonoscopy are an important boost for the exam that will produce better research data while supporting VC’s eventual splash into the medical mainstream.

Robert Bloomfield, vice president of E-Z-EM and director of the Coalition for CTC, an advocacy organization that lobbies Congress for recognition and funding of the virtual exam, hails the temporary codes as “the beginning of everything.”

It was as a lobbyist that Bloomfield spoke to radiologists at the 2003 International Symposium on Virtual Colonoscopy in Boston. In this issue of the Virtual Colonoscopy Insider, Bloomfield offers an insightful view of congressional thinking on cancer screening in general, and virtual colonoscopy in particular.

VC is a complex exam that rarely lends itself to easy explanations, he said, especially when the target audience comprises far more lawyers than doctors. Money is an issue, of course -- if a screening exam is too good, the fear is that millions will demand it, driving up healthcare costs at a time when budget concerns are keeping legislators up at night.

You’ll find the rest of Bloomfield’s frank discussion here. As an AuntMinnie Insider, you can access this article before it is made available to other AuntMinnie members.

Also in this issue, don’t miss the tale of the disappointing MUSC trial and radiology’s swift denunciation of its methodology. There is also a study by Greek researchers who are using virtual colonoscopy for post-colostomy surveillance.

In another study, radiologists from Germany found that four-slice CT easily beat a 1.5-tesla MRI scanner in VC sensitivity due to higher spatial resolution. CT even outperformed a 3-tesla MRI machine, but the MRI settings weren’t optimized, so you’ll want to stay tuned for the rematch.

Last but not least is a discussion on the importance of proper study methodology and reporting techniques. Dr. Abraham Dachman from the University of Chicago and Dr. Michael Zalis from Harvard offer solid advice for avoiding future train wrecks in virtual colonoscopy research.