Radiation exposure in virtual colonoscopy not a problem

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

The risk of developing cancer through the radiation exposure of virtual colonoscopy is negligible.
Virtual colonoscopy is an emerging technology that allows non-invasive examination of the colon. It can, potentially, be used to screen for early colon cancer. However, it does involve some exposure to X-rays and this has raised some concerns over its safety.

A team at Columbia University Medical Center has estimated the radiation dose to various organs during a virtual colonoscopy scan. This shows that the estimated lifetime risk of a scan to a 50 year old is 0.14 per cent and, for a 70 year old. 0.022 per cent. The main organs at risk are the colon, stomach and bladder. This is far less than, for example, the risk of computed-tomography based lung cancer screening.

Given these low risks and the non-invasive nature of virtual colonoscopy, it's possible more people may attend for screening if it was done in this way. It's recommended that all individuals aged 50 or more should have regular screening, but many are put off by the need for preparation for a conventional colonoscopy.

Source
Gastroenterology 1st July 2005

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