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ACRIN Trial Seeks Definitive Word on Virtual Colonoscopy
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Submitted By: Fredericks Nancy
ACRIN Trial Seeks Definitive Word on CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy) as Front Line Screening Test
Philadelphia, PA – The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) is coordinating the largest multicenter study to compare the effectiveness of state-of-the-art CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) to conventional colonoscopy. As of December 1, 2005, over 1100 volunteers have participated in the ACRIN National CT Colonography Trial that will accrue nearly 2,300 patients at 15 sites nationwide, and may provide the definitive word on CT colonography’s role as a colorectal cancer screening tool.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Yet, despite the known benefits of screening, studies indicate that the majority of Americans are not being screened for the disease.
Computerized Tomographic Colonography, a revolutionary new tool, employs cutting edge, virtual reality technology to produce 3-dimensional, “fly through” images that permit a thorough and minimally invasive evaluation of the entire colorectal structure.
“The idea is to provide a more acceptable and high performance examination that will translate into more patients undergoing the test, and consequently a reduction in overall colon cancer mortality,” said ACRIN National CT Colonography Trial Principal Investigator, C. Daniel Johnson, MD, FACR, of the Mayo Clinic. “Preliminary study results suggest that CT colonography is highly competitive with other screening tests. However, prior to its widespread clinical use, the test’s accuracy must be evaluated in a large, multi-center trial that compares the latest CT colonography technology with the ‘gold standard’ of colonoscopy,” said Dr Johnson.
Study participants must be at least 50 years old, scheduled for a screening colonoscopy, and not had a colonoscopy in the past 5 years. Each study participant will have a CT colonography followed by a colonoscopy on the same day. Participant recruitment is expected to be complete in approximately 1 year.
“The people I know are avoiding colonoscopy simply because it is an invasive procedure. If this study proves to be as effective as colonoscopy, there are going to be a lot of people that I think will be lining up to take the screening!” said ACRIN CT Colonography Trial participant Paul Leverentz, Stillwater, Minn.
Participants scheduled for a screening colonoscopy will be recruited with assistance from gastroenterologists at each participating site.
“The ACRIN trial, we feel, is going to be the study that resolves the unsettled issues. It has extremely high-quality control standards embedded within it. The radiologists are highly trained, tested, the equipment used for the CT colonography is state of the art, and the population tested is truly representative,” said David Ahlquist, MD – Mayo Clinic (MN) gastroenterologist.
Since most colon cancers develop from polyps, and screening to find and remove these polyps can prevent colon cancer, an enormous opportunity exists to save lives with early detection. However, current standard screening tools all have limitations. Fecal occult blood testing is inexpensive and noninvasive, but research results indicate this test has a relatively poor detection rate. While sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy exams are, at present, more accurate, they have distinct disincentives for patient compliance and carry a slight risk.
According to Stephen F. Sener, MD, president of American Cancer Society, “The ACRIN National CT Colonography Trial will evaluate the effectiveness of this noninvasive screening technology, and thus may help remove a barrier to getting more people 50 and older screened. If more people get screened, more lives will be saved from colorectal cancer.”
For further information about the ACRIN National CT Colonography Trial, please visit http://www.acrin.org/6664_brochure.html or for a list of participating sites visit: http://www.acrin.org/6666sites.html.
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