Computer-aided detection in computer tomography colonography: a review.

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of death from cancer. Computer tomography colonography (CTC) - also known as 'virtual colonoscopy' - is a minimally invasive, CT-based procedure that can simulate conventional colonoscopy using three-dimensional computerized reconstructions. In an attempt to improve the method further, a lot of research emphasis has been put on computer-aided detection (CAD) to overcome potential limitations of this examination.

Objective: This review recapitulates basic principles of CTC and CAD and highlights the importance of this method as a tool for screening for colorectal cancer.

Methods: This article reviews the current literature on CAD used with CT colonography.

Conclusions: CAD potentially helps to improve the detection rate for adenomas, decrease interobserver variability and data set interpretation time.