Only the invention of flexible endoscopes made a colonoscopy possible at all. Even though endoscopes are much thinner and more flexible today, patients still perceive this technique as very uncomfortable which is about to change with this new way of examination.

To create the virtual reality, two-dimensional images are needed. Because of the high resolution, a CT-scan is at the moment the best choice. Those images are transformed by the so-called computer-based 3D volume rendering in three-dimensional image information.
The doctor sits in front of his monitor and goes on a virtual journey through the intestine.

If polyps are already existent in the colon, the risks for malignant colorectal diseases increase significantly. Considering the results of recent clinical studies, where 96 percent of all colon polyps with a size of more than ten millimeters were detected, it makes even more sense to take a look on the cases of application.

• For the early detection of colorectal cancer
• For the planning of intestinal surgery
• For a check-up of hereditary bowel diseases
• For check-ups after intestinal surgery
• For the diagnosis of intestinal ulcers

But for polyps less than eight millimeters or flat polyps, virtual colonoscopy is less reliable than the traditional colonoscopy. Also inflammatory changes in the intestinal wall are not recognized.
Studies showed that 50 percent of the patients prefer the virtual colonoscopy. A colon cleansing is necessary for both techniques.
For a reliable screening and early detection of colon cancer and colon polyps the traditional endoscopy is still more meaningful.
Anyway the virtual colonoscopy is accepted as an alternative to the normal colonoscopy.