Indications for virtual colonoscopy:

 

• Asymptomatic low-risk patients
• Average-risk screening patients over 50 years of age
• Patients with positive family history of colon cancer over 40 years of age

 

• Patients unable to complete optical colonoscopy
• Patients with contraindications to optical colonoscopy
• Pre-screening high-risk patients prior to optical Colonoscopy

 

For patients with any of the following medical history, a recommendation for optical colonoscopy would be more appropriate and a referral to the Gastroenterology Clinic should be provided to the patient:

 

• Positive stool guaiac test within six months of referral
• Iron deficiency anemia within six months of referral
• Adenomatous polyps, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), or familiar adenomatous polyposis syndrome (FAPS)
• Hematochezia within past 12 months
• Unintentional weight loss of > 10 pounds within past 12 months

 

Contraindications for VC:

• Pregnancy or possibility of pregnancy by clinical history
• Breastfeeding