CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy)

CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) at SurGal Clinic Brno — non-invasive CT-based examination of the entire colon and rectum for colorectal cancer screening and polyp detection. No sedation required. AIDR low-dose CT technology.

CT colonography — also called virtual colonoscopy — at SurGal Clinic Brno provides non-invasive imaging of the entire colon and rectum using computed tomography, without the need for endoscopic instrument insertion or intravenous sedation. The examination is one of the key differentiating services in SurGal's CT portfolio and positions the clinic as a regional centre of expertise for colorectal screening in the South Moravia region. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the Czech Republic and across Europe, and regular screening — beginning at age 45–50 for average-risk individuals and earlier for those with family history or other risk factors — is recommended by Czech and European clinical guidelines. Adenomatous polyps, particularly those 6mm or larger, carry a meaningful risk of malignant transformation over years; detecting and removing them before they become cancerous is the primary goal of colorectal screening. The CT colonography procedure requires bowel preparation: dietary restriction the day before the examination and laxative purging to clear the colon of residual stool that would otherwise obscure mucosal detail. On arrival, a small rectal tube is inserted to inflate the colon with CO₂ gas. The patient is then scanned in both supine and prone positions, with the two orientations redistributing residual fluid and improving mucosal coverage. The entire colonic length from rectum to caecum is imaged, and the radiologist reviews three-dimensional endoluminal reconstructions alongside standard cross-sectional views. SurGal's CT colonography uses the clinic's AIDR-equipped scanner, which reduces radiation dose by 50–80% — an important consideration for a screening examination in an asymptomatic population. Studies in patients with incomplete prior optical colonoscopy due to technical difficulty or anatomy are particularly well served by CT colonography, which reliably completes assessment of the proximal colon. Advantages over optical colonoscopy include: no sedation required, no risk of bowel perforation from instrument advancement, simultaneous extracolonic imaging of abdominal and pelvic organs (incidental findings occasionally identify clinically significant pathology), and the ability to image the full colon even in patients with bowel anatomy making optical completion difficult. The key limitation is the inability to perform same-session polypectomy — a positive CT colonography finding requires follow-up optical colonoscopy for removal. CT colonography is therefore an ideal first-step screening option and a complete alternative for patients unable or unwilling to undergo conventional colonoscopy. Reports are prepared by specialist radiologists at SurGal Clinic. Self-pay and international patients use the SurGal Premium portal at premium.surgalclinic.cz for booking and English-language coordination.