A Virtual Colonoscopy uses a CT scan to image the colon, rectum and small intestine. The Virtual Colonoscopy is used to diagnose colon and bowel issues, including polyps, diverticulosis and cancer. It also allows the specialist to have a detailed look at other organs such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder and spleen, should they need to. In the past, patients would have a Colonoscopy, a surgical procedure, to examine the colon (also known as the large bowel). However, X-Ray technology has advanced so much that it is now possible to have a virtual colonoscopy during a CT scan. Instead of the need to use an invasive private colonoscopy, our consultants can now examine the inside of your colon from the outside of your body using detailed X-Rays.
Non-invasive virtual colonoscopy
- No waiting times
- Fast results
- Hospital in Newton-le-Willows
- Price from £840
Enquire About Our Services
A member of our team will be in touch with you to discuss your requirements.
Virtual colonoscopy medical insurance
At Pall Mall we work with all of the major, private medical insurance companies. You may be able to cover the cost of a private GP using your medical insurance policy. However, to make sure always contact your insurance company before booking an appointment. They’ll check to see whether your policy covers this service at Pall Mall and they can pre-authorise your consultation. When you contact us, you’ll need to provide your insurance details and pre-authorisation code.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Our expert team are always hand to help, advise and arrange appointments with our specialist consultants.
What symptoms is a virtual colonoscopy used to diagnose?
Virtual Colonoscopies are suitable for those over the age of 45 who have:
- Abdominal pain
- Altered bowel habit
- Anaemia
- Bloating
- Palpable mass on examination
- Rectal bleeding
- Weight loss
It’s also advisable to have a Virtual Colonoscopy if your family has a significant history of any bowel or colon related cancers (one first-degree relative or three distant relatives). The procedure can be used for private bowel cancer screening, as diagnosis or highlighting if you are at risk of developing cancer.
Why have a Virtual Colonoscopy compared to a traditional Colonoscopy?
With a Virtual Colonoscopy, hundreds of highly detailed images of the colon can be taken without a camera entering the body. Medical specialists will get the images they need to make judgements about conditions which can affect this area, including unexplained weight loss and colorectal cancer. The procedure can also be used for bowel cancer screening, diagnosis and be used during bowel cancer treatments.
Compared to other colonic tests, a Virtual Colonoscopy is a comfortable and non-invasive test. As well as diagnosing issues with the colon, virtual colonoscopies from Pall Mall Medical can also be used to look for issues with internal organs including the pancreas, kidneys and liver.
The treatment can be used for:
- An alternative when patients are unsuitable for traditional colonoscopy techniques.
- Detailed imaging of abdominal organs.
- Improved bowel cancer detection.
Patients can travel home comfortably after the test, without the need for sedation or an overnight stay, as the test is routinely done as an outpatient procedure. The scan will be performed by a radiologist but other clinicians will be called on as needed, such as a bowel cancer specialist or a colorectal surgeon.
The Virtual Colonoscopy Procedure
During the test you will have two CT scans, one to take images of the back of your bowels (when you’ll be laying on your front) and one on the front of your bowels (when you will lie on your back). Together, these images will create a virtual image of the inside of your bowels.
The procedure usually takes 10 - 20 minutes. You may be given an injection of a muscle relaxant to help relax the muscles of the bowel wall. You may also be given another injection to help imaging.
For more information on the procedure, please visit our page on preparing for a virtual colonoscopy or call our Newton-le-Willows hospital on 03300 27 26 43.
We put you at the heart of everything we do
We put the patient at the heart of everything we do.
Pall Mall Medical is owned and led by doctors –which means care without compromise. We’re driven by how best we can deliver what you need from start to finish.
- Care Quality Commission Regulated.
- State-of-the-art facilities.
- No waiting lists.
- Rated 4.95 by our patients.
- No referrals required.
Always here to help, whenever you need us
Our expert team are always here to help, advise and arrange appointments with our specialist consultants.
