But experts say the new technique still has flaws and is several years away from widespread use. The study looked at a procedure called virtual colonoscopy. The images are fed into a computer, which uses them to create a three-dimensional representation of the entire colon. Using a computer equipped with special software, a doctor can examine this 'virtual colon' for polyps, small growths that can lead to cancer. Virtual colonoscopy is designed as an alternative to conventional colonoscopy, in which a doctor uses a long, flexible tube to examine the intestine.
Researchers say the procedure is uncomfortable, and people undergoing it usually have to be sedated.
Also, they say, there is a small risk that the tube will puncture the wall of the intestine during the examination. As a result, the procedure is usually reserved for patients who are thought to be at high risk for colon cancer. The study of virtual colonoscopy was done by a team at Boston University. They had doctors examine 100 patients at high risk of colon cancer using both the virtual and conventional techniques on each individual. Both techniques found three cancerous growths.