CT colonography and lower gastrointestinal cancer pathways: planning for the next decade.

The burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) is substantial, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in the UK. Early detection improves outcomes, with bowel cancer screening participation achieving mortality reduction by 25% 1 Logan R.F. Patnick J. Nickerson C. et al. English Bowel Cancer Screening Evaluation CommitteeOutcomes of the bowel cancer screening programme (BCSP) in England after the first 1 million tests. Gut. 2012; 61: 1439-1446 Crossref PubMed Scopus (393) Google Scholar ; however, this relies on adequate capacity of high-quality endoscopy and radiology services. In the coming decade, the demand for computed tomography (CT) colonography (CTC) is anticipated to grow as a function of new symptoms suggestive of CRC in an aging population and the increased demands on colonoscopy for bowel cancer screening and surveillance.