Endoscopy 2020; 52(12): 1127-1141
DOI: 10.1055/a-1258-4819
Guideline

Imaging alternatives to colonoscopy: CT colonography and colon capsule. European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) Guideline – Update 2020

Cristiano Spada
 1   Digestive Endoscopy Unit and Gastroenterology, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy
 2   Department of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
,
Cesare Hassan
 3   Gastroenterology Unit, Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome, Italy
,
Davide Bellini
 4   Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Diagnostic Imaging Unit, I.C.O.T. Hospital Latina, Italy
,
David Burling
 5   St. Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, London, UK
,
Giovanni Cappello
 6   Radiology Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Turin, Italy
,
Cristina Carretero
 7   Department of Gastroenterology. University of Navarre Clinic, Healthcare Research Institute of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain
,
Evelien Dekker
 8   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam University Medical Center location AMC, The Netherlands
,
Rami Eliakim
 9   Department of Gastroenterology, Sheba Medical Center , Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel
,
Margriet de Haan
10   Department of Radiology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
,
Michal F. Kaminski
11   Departments of Gastroenterological Oncology and Cancer Prevention, The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Anastasios Koulaouzidis
12   Endoscopy Unit, Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, University Hospitals, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
,
Andrea Laghi
13   Department of Surgical-Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
,
Philippe Lefere
14   Department of Radiology, Stedelijk Ziekenhuis, Roeselare, Belgium
,
Thomas Mang
15   Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Sebastian Manuel Milluzzo
 1   Digestive Endoscopy Unit and Gastroenterology, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy
 2   Department of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
,
Martina Morrin
16   RCSI Radiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
,
Deirdre McNamara
17   TAGG Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
,
Emanuele Neri
18   Diagnostic Radiology 3, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Italy
,
Silvia Pecere
 2   Department of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
,
Mathieu Pioche
19   Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Unit, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
,
Andrew Plumb
20   Centre for Medical Imaging, University College London, London, UK
,
Emanuele Rondonotti
21   Gastroenterology Unit, Ospedale Valduce, Como, Italy
,
Manon CW Spaander
22   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
,
Stuart Taylor
20   Centre for Medical Imaging, University College London, London, UK
,
Ignacio Fernandez-Urien
23   Gastroenterology, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
,
Jeanin E. van Hooft
24   Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
,
Jaap Stoker
25   Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
,
Daniele Regge
 6   Radiology Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Turin, Italy
26   University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Preview

Main recommendations

1 ESGE/ESGAR recommend computed tomographic colonography (CTC) as the radiological examination of choice for the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia.
Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

ESGE/ESGAR do not recommend barium enema in this setting.
Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

2 ESGE/ESGAR recommend CTC, preferably the same or next day, if colonoscopy is incomplete. The timing depends on an interdisciplinary decision including endoscopic and radiological factors.
Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

ESGE/ESGAR suggests that, in centers with expertise in and availability of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE), CCE preferably the same or the next day may be considered if colonoscopy is incomplete.
Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

3 When colonoscopy is contraindicated or not possible, ESGE/ESGAR recommend CTC as an acceptable and equally sensitive alternative for patients with alarm symptoms.
Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.
Because of lack of direct evidence, ESGE/ESGAR do not recommend CCE in this situation.
Very low quality evidence.

ESGE/ESGAR recommend CTC as an acceptable alternative to colonoscopy for patients with non-alarm symptoms.
Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.
In centers with availability, ESGE/ESGAR suggests that CCE may be considered in patients with non-alarm symptoms.
Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

4 Where there is no organized fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based population colorectal screening program, ESGE/ESGAR recommend CTC as an option for colorectal cancer screening, providing the screenee is adequately informed about test characteristics, benefits, and risks, and depending on local service- and patient-related factors.
Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.

ESGE/ESGAR do not suggest CCE as a first-line screening test for colorectal cancer.
Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

5 ESGE/ESGAR recommend CTC in the case of a positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or FIT with incomplete or unfeasible colonoscopy, within organized population screening programs.
Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence.

ESGE/ESGAR also suggest the use of CCE in this setting based on availability.
Weak recommendation, moderate quality evidence.

6 ESGE/ESGAR suggest CTC with intravenous contrast medium injection for surveillance after curative-intent resection of colorectal cancer only in patients in whom colonoscopy is contraindicated or unfeasible
Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend CCE in this setting.
Very low quality evidence.

7 ESGE/ESGAR suggest CTC in patients with high risk polyps undergoing surveillance after polypectomy only when colonoscopy is unfeasible.
Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend CCE in post-polypectomy surveillance.
Very low quality evidence.

8 ESGE/ESGAR recommend against CTC in patients with acute colonic inflammation and in those who have recently undergone colorectal surgery, pending a multidisciplinary evaluation.

Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.

9 ESGE/ESGAR recommend referral for endoscopic polypectomy in patients with at least one polyp ≥ 6 mm detected at CTC or CCE.
Follow-up CTC may be clinically considered for 6 – 9-mm CTC-detected lesions if patients do not undergo polypectomy because of patient choice, comorbidity, and/or low risk profile for advanced neoplasia.

Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence.

Supplementary material



Publication History

Article published online:
26 October 2020

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