OBJECTIVE: To assess the degree of acceptance of patients undergoing computed tomography colonography (CTC) in comparison with colonoscopy in the screening of colorectal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with suspected colorectal disease underwent CTC and colonoscopy. Questionnaires were administered before and after the performance of the CTC and after the colonoscopy. The discomfort expected and experienced before and after the performance of both procedures as well as the patients' preference for each method were evaluated. RESULTS: As regards CTC, before the procedure, 18% of the patients reported expecting little discomfort, 78%, mild discomfort, and 4%, a lot of discomfort. After the procedure, 72% of the patients reported little discomfort, 26%, mild discomfort, and only one (2%) of the patients reported a lot of discomfort. Upon completion of the colonoscopy, 86% of the patients reported their preference for CTC. The degree of colonic distention and residual amount of fluid had no influence on the patients' preference. CONCLUSION: CTC was preferred to colonoscopy, with no statistical relationship with the degree of colonic distention at CTC and efficiency of bowel preparation.
Colonoscopy; Virtual colonoscopy; Computed tomography colonography; Computed tomography; Patients' preference; Patients' satisfaction
