New imaging mapping device for the detection and location of rectal cancer

Colon and rectal cancer affects men and women equally. It is the third most common type of cancer in men, and the second most common type in women. Colon cancer usually affects people over the age of 40, with the majority of people who are diagnosed with the condition being over 60 years of age. Every year, 35 000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK. Colorectal cancer is conventionally diagnosed by colonoscopy or barium enema examination. Colonoscopy is described as the ‘gold standard’ test allowing visualisation and biopsy of a potential colorectal cancer. It is, however, an invasive procedure with a degree of discomfort to the patient and has associated complication and, albeit rare, mortality rates. Double contrast barium enema x-ray has less complication risk, but has a reduced sensitivity and specificity for detecting colorectal neoplasia (benign or malignant). Double contrast enema can detect 70-80% of pre-malignant colorectal polyps that are >1 cm in diameter and a higher proportion of bowel cancers. Newer techniques such as CT colonography, whilst more acceptable to patients, has lower sensitivity and specificity compared to colonoscopy. The advent of MRI colonography has not yet been accepted into common clinical practice.