Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1095

Computed tomography colonography

Application No.

1095

Application Name Computed tomography colonography
Advisory PanelsDr Michael Cleary
(Chair and MSAC member)
Dr Andrew Little
(Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists nominee)
Professor Michael Solomon
(MSAC member)
Dr Richard Mendelson
(Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists nominee)
A/Prof Graham Newstead
(Colorectal Surgical Society)
Ms Barbara Joss
(Consumers' Health Forum of Australia nominee)
Dr Michael Bourke
(Gastroenterological Society of Australia nominee)
Dr David Barton
(Department of Health and Ageing)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat10 January 2005
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 28 February 2006 meeting.

Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) is a relatively safe procedure. CTC, Double Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE) and colonoscopy are associated with a small risk of complications.

Evidence in relation to the comparison of CTC with colonoscopy indicates that CTC is less effective. The MSAC recommends that public funding for CTC as a substitute investigation for colonoscopy should not be supported.

On the basis of the strength of evidence pertaining to the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, the MSAC recommends that public funding for CTC for exclusion of colorectal neoplasia in symptomatic or high risk patients who are either ineligible for colonoscopy due to patient contraindications, or where there is an inability to perform or complete a colonoscopy, should be supported.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing 24 August 2006
Stage 5 - ImplementationImplemented
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