Optical colonoscopy facilitates the detection and removal of premalignant polyps and is the gold standard as a screening and surveillance tool for colorectal cancer (CRC). Despite the demonstrated track record of the procedure, a number of factors limit patient acceptance of this test.

Concerns about adverse events, the required colon-cleansing prep, the need for sedation and pain control, loss of work time, and costs associated with optical colonoscopy are among the issues that negatively affect patient tolerance.

In addition, inadequate cleansing before the test can reduce cancer detection rates and lead to the need for repeat procedures.

Mayo Clinic researchers, in collaboration with others, are working to assess and advance capsule-based technology for CRC screening. According to Elizabeth Rajan, M.D., a gastroenterologist and researcher from Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota, one of the newest capsule imaging systems currently being studied is a prepless, disposable and ingestible X-ray imaging capsule.