Additional Virtual Colonoscopy Training Programs Being Offered by Harvard Medical School
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June 20, 2007, Tustin, California --
Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.
today
announced it will sponsor a continuing medical education course in
Virtual Colonoscopy in collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital,
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Department of
Continuing Education. Since 2004, courses in Virtual Colonoscopy have
been offered at Harvard Medical School. Harvard is now expanding the
program by offering this course at the Toshiba Education Center in
Irvine, Calif. with open enrollment to physicians worldwide.
Virtual Colonoscopy is preferred by some patients as a colonoscopy
method due to its minimally invasive nature, according to
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. It is a non-invasive colonoscopy screening
method in which multiple diagnostic x-ray images of the colorectal
region are taken by a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner. The multiple CT
images are used to create a picture of the overall colorectal structure,
which is studied for signs of disease by physicians.
"CT Virtual Colonoscopy is an effective, non-invasive alternative to
conventional optical colonoscopy for high risk patients," explained
Joseph Cooper, senior manager, CT Business Unit at Toshiba. "Working
with Harvard on this training program, we hope to encourage physicians
to explore Virtual Colonoscopy as a method to improve patient care."
According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 52,000 people have
died this year alone from colorectal cancer - cancers found in the colon
or rectum. In addition, nearly 154,000 new cases of colorectal cancer
have already been diagnosed in 2007.
"Despite the number of lives claimed by colorectal cancer each year,
these cancers can be treated if diagnosed early," explained Dr. Barish,
Assistant Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School and Director of
the Virtual Colonoscopy course. "However, patient compliance is a
serious issue, because many patients forego having an optical
colonoscopy until it is too late. We hope our course will empower
physicians to utilize Virtual Colonoscopy, a less invasive, but still
effective screening method that is preferred by patients. This screening
technique may help save lives through early detection and increased
compliance."
Like the traditional optical colonoscopy, a Virtual Colonoscopy still
requires similar preparation by the patient but is completed in
approximately 10 minutes. Additionally, this screening process can
capture images of the entire colorectal structure, not only the colon as
in traditional optical colonoscopy. Other advantages of Virtual
Colonoscopy include:
- The ability to view structures outside of the colon wall, such as the
kidneys, liver and aorta, affording clinicians the potential to identify
abnormalities and other cancers that can be missed during optical
colonoscopy.
- No patient sedation, allowing patients to resume their daily lives
after the procedure.
Toshiba plans to host the course quarterly with the first Virtual
Colonoscopy course August 20-21, 2007. Enrollment information can be
found at www.virtualcolonoscopy.org. The two-day intensive course will
take students through the entire Virtual Colonoscopy process using
Toshiba CT images and workstations. Upon completion, attendees will
receive 15 hours of category 1 CME credit.
About Toshiba
With headquarters in Tustin, California, Toshiba America Medical Systems
markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and
coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in
the United States.
Toshiba Medical Systems Corp., an independent group company of Toshiba
Corp., is a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging
systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, Cath & EP Labs,
X-ray, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and information systems.
Toshiba Corp. is a leader in information and communications systems,
electronic components, consumer products, and power systems. Toshiba has
approximately 172,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $62
billion. For more information, visit www.medical.toshiba.com .
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