A recent trial involving Brown and other institutions has shown that computed tomography, better known as CT scanning technology, is very accurate when used to help screen colorectal cancer.
The trial, which had the goal of assessing the accuracy of CT colonography, was conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network.
Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the trial enrolled more than 2,600 patients across 15 sites nationwide.
Data from the trial were sent for analysis to the research group's Biostatistics Center, which is part of Brown's Center for Statistical Sciences.
Since the study was initiated in 2005, the center's faculty and staff have played a major role in providing methodological leadership to the American College, designing studies and monitoring and analyzing the data.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, according to the study.
Also known as virtual colonoscopy, CT colonography employs virtual reality technology that allows doctors to better see the colorectum without using invasive procedures.
Using conventional colonoscopy as the gold standard, virtual colonoscopy "has several potential advantages over other screening tests, including rapid imaging of the entire colorectum; a relatively noninvasive technique, with no need for sedation; and a low risk of procedure-related complications," the study found.
The new screening process helps look for and detect abnormalities in abdominal areas other than the colon, said Mei-Hsiu Chen PhD'05, assistant professor in the Center for Statistical Sciences.
"This is going to be a definitive study which shows that CT colonography is one of the modalities that should be used for screening for colorectal cancer," said Professor of Medical Science Constantine Gatsonis, who specializes in biostatistics and is director of the Center for Statistical Sciences.
"It will also influence health policies," in a positive way, he said.
Currently, Chen and other members are working on subsequent papers that will address questions arising from their primary paper on this project.
Chen said the researchers are focusing on how to generalize virtual colonoscopy in screening programs across the country.
The questions concern the cost-effectiveness of the screening process and whether radiologists have preferences for certain software and preparation procedures.