Colon cancer is among the most preventable cancers when caught early. More than 82 million Americans are eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Currently, diagnostics are underutilized due in part to the invasive nature of screening procedures.
The most common diagnostic procedures is the oft-dreaded colonoscopy. It’s recommended that individuals 50 and up get one – some 90% of colon cancers occur in this age group. During the exam, a colonoscope, a long, slender, flexible tube attached to a video camera is used to view the colon and rectum. Polyps found during the procedure are typically biospied and analyzed.
A less-invasive screening method is virtual colonoscopy (VC). VC uses computed tomography (CT) imaging and software to assemble two and three-dimensional images of the colon. Nashua, NH-based iCAD offers Colon CAD, virtual colonoscopy software.
iCAD recently initiated a clinical study for Colon CAD in partnership with ACR Image Metrix, a subsidiary of the American College of Radiology. The partnership will assess Colon CAD’s accuracy in interpreting CT Colonography exams. The study will also assess the sensitivity of Colon CAD for detecting polyps.
The analysis will include several hundred cases tested with Colon CAD and some 20 radiologists. According to management, the clinical study should enable iCAD to submit data to the FDA, bringing Colon CAD closer to market.
According to the American Cancer Society, 112,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer annually.
