Everyone undergoing any type of colonoscopy must completely empty their bowels before the exam. This may be done using an enema or laxatives combined with a liquid diet the day before the test. The bowel must be completely emptied until no solid matter remains.

Unfortunately, diarrhea is common during preparation. Drink plenty of clear liquids, such as apple juice and chicken broth, to avoid dehydration.

Make sure you tell your health care provider about any medications you are taking. You’ll be told which you can take, and which you should temporarily stop. CT and MRI scanners are very sensitive to metals. Don’t wear jewelry the day of your exam. You’ll be asked to wear a hospital gown for the procedure.

The x-rays are painless. Pumping air into the colon can create cramping or gas pains.

Virtual colonoscopy may be performed to:

• Follow-up on colon cancer or polyps
• Look for the cause of:
  • Abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, or weight loss
  • Anemia due to low iron
  • Blood in the stool or black, tarry stools
• Screen for cancer of the colon or rectum (should be done every 5 years)

Your doctor may want to do a conventional colonoscopy instead of a virtual colonoscopy. The reason is that virtual colonoscopy does not allow the doctor to remove tissue samples or polyps.

A regular colonoscopy may be done (on a different day) after a virtual colonoscopy if:

• No cause for bleeding or other symptoms were found. Virtual colonoscopy can miss some smaller problems in the colon.
• Problems that need a biopsy were seen on a virtual colonoscopy

Other times, a virtual colonoscopy is done if your doctor was not able to move the flexible tube all the way through the colon during a conventional colonoscopy.

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Review Date: 11/12/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology, Boca Raton, FL. Clinical Instructor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)