MRI Colonoscopy Vs. Standard Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is the examination of a patient's large intestines, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Traditionally, it is known as an invasive and uncomfortable procedure, but modern technology has yielded alternatives, such as a Microwave Resonance Imaging, or virtual, colonoscopy.
Virtual Imaging
The MRI creates a series of images of the patient's large intestine. It does this by creating a magnetic field around a patient's body and sending radio waves that are sent to a computer, which processes the signals to generate a three-dimensional view of the large intestine for the doctor to use in diagnosis.
Bowel Preparation
Both MRI and standard colonoscopies require bowel preparation before the procedure. This requires the patient to clean out the intestines so that bodily waste does not obstruct views during the colonoscopy. Typically, this done with laxatives or an enema, and with a liquid diet a day before the procedure.
Less Invasive
A standard colonoscopy involves the insertion of a large flexible tube with a camera attached, called a colonscope, into the patient's anus. An MRI procedure uses a scanner, which is clearly less invasive.
Polyps Detection
A polyp is a small growth on the side of the large intestine that could be indicative of disease. Both virtual and standard colonoscopies can detect them, but virtual colonscopies can only detect ones larger than 1/2 inch, which are considered large; however, larger polyps are usually much more likely to lead to medical issues, such as cancer.
Tags: large intestine, before procedure, Colonoscopy Standard, Colonoscopy Standard Colonoscopy, patient large, standard colonoscopies, Standard Colonoscopy
