Source: MGT Capital Investments, Inc.
Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Medicsight PLC, a subsidiary of MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (AMEX:MGT) , and an industry leader in the development of computer-aided detection (CAD) and image analysis software, today announced that the National US Computerized Tomography (CT) Colonography Trial (ACRIN study 6664), shows CT colonography was able to detect 90 per cent of asymptomatic patients with colonic polyps or cancers of 10mm and larger, compared with the gold standard examination of optical colonoscopy. The results are expected to lead to wider adoption of CT colonography (also known as CTC) as a routine screening examination for colorectal cancer.
David Sumner, CEO of Medicsight, commented: "We are delighted with the results of this study, which confirms our belief in CTC as a non-invasive alternative to optical colonoscopy for the screening of colon cancer. The level of sensitivity that can be achieved for the detection of polyps is extremely high, and because of its non-invasive nature we believe there will be a greater uptake of this type of screening in the future for those at greatest risk of developing colon cancer. CTC will undoubtedly improve the diagnostic and treatment options of patients with this devastating disease. We predict that Medicsight's ColonCAD product will be a direct beneficiary of this trend towards utilizing CTC as the colon cancer screening modality of choice."
The study, published this month in 'The New England Journal of Medicine,' assessed 2531 asymptomatic patients over the age of 50, who were at an average risk of colon cancer. Patients were screened using both CTC and optical colonoscopy, which served as the reference standard. The study showed a per-patient sensitivity of 90 per cent for polyps or cancers 10mm or larger in diameter using CT colonography, augmenting similar reported studies of the effectiveness of CTC in average risk screening patients. The ACRIN trial also identified 78 per cent of patients who had a polyp or cancer of 6mm or larger.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US When colorectal cancer is detected early the survival rate is high. Regular screening is recommended for those most at risk and population screening for people aged 50 or older. However, less than half these people actually undergo a screening procedure. Conventional optical colonoscopy, involving the insertion of a flexible fiber optic scope into the colon, remains the "gold standard" for detection of colonic polyps and early-stage tumors. However, by comparison CTC is non-invasive, considered less uncomfortable for the patient and offers great potential as an effective examination for routine colorectal screening. The results of this ACRIN study are expected to be a key factor in support of US reimbursement for CTC by health insurance companies, thereby driving wider adoption of this technique and increased levels of screening compliance in the at-risk population.
