Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Virtual colonoscopy is reaping the benefits of technology at every turn, from the clarity of thinner CT slices to improved exam protocols and better CAD algorithms. But money still makes the world go 'round, and from that vantage point, VC's progress seems less assured.
Dollars that could come in the form of a Medicare national coverage decision embracing VC for screening seem a long way off -- in part because positive results from the ACRIN National CT Colonography Trial, which could propel such a decision in the U.S., are years away. Still, things are looking better at the local level.
This month's Insider Exclusive features a recent discussion by Dr. Abraham Dachman from the University of Chicago. The VC veteran sees positive signs aplenty, but warns that everything from interest in VC training to the pace of development will rely on whether or not people can make money doing the procedure.
Meanwhile, a story in today's Virtual Colonoscopy Digital Community features a study by radiologists at the University of Essen. The MRC pioneers applied dark-lumen MR colonography in patients with suspected diverticulitis, an area that most exam techniques, including CT colonography, have had trouble with.
Also in this Insider, don't miss a new study concluding that 3D views offer more accurate polyp measurements than 2D MPR views, for reasons you might already suspect. A local Medicare provider in the Midwest has approved reimbursement for diagnostic VC after conventional colonoscopy fails for any reason. And in VC CAD, a new path-planning technique aims to maximize the observable mucosa.
Last but not least, there's still time to register for the most important VC meeting of the year. The Sixth International Symposium on Virtual Colonoscopy will be held in Boston October 17 and 18.
