Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, may offer an alternative to conventional colonoscopy, according to a new study.MRI does not require the insertion of a long tube in the rectum and with the use of a special technique called fecal tagging, patients do not have to undergo bowel cleansing as in conventional colonoscopy. An advantage of conventional colonoscopy over MRI is that polyps that are detected can be removed or biopsied during the procedure.
The study found that MRI can accurately detect polyps that have potential to become cancerous, but is not as good as detecting small polyps. According to the lead author on the study, Dr. Christiane A. Kuehle, MRI colonography was good at detecting polyps greater than 5 millimeters in diameter, but nearly always missed smaller polyps.
The researchers believe that conventional colonoscopy will remain the screening method of choice for colon cancer.
