CT Colonography

Gernot Böhm, born in 1971, graduated at the Vienna school of medicine in 1996. From 2000 to 2001 he underwent intensive training in gastrointestinal radiology under Prof. P. Pokieser and Prof. G. Lechner at the department of radiology in the General Hospital of Vienna. Dr. Böhm has been a specialist in radiology since 2002. He is currently working at the institute of diagnostic and interventional radiology, Krankenhaus der Elisabethinen, in Linz, Austria. As a member of the European Society of Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Radiology (ESGAR) Gernot Böhm has been involved in the development of virtual colonoscopy from the very start, and has consistently refined and perfected the procedure. Of his numerous scientific publications and book chapters, the Expert Coach for CT Colonography is his most recent highlight.

ForewordOver the past 10–15 years, CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) has rapidly matured from a novel research curiosity to an invaluable diagnostic tool for colorectal investigation. Excellent diagnostic performance has been repeatedly demonstrated in a number of screening trials, as well as in symptomatic cohorts. As such, the validation phase of CT colonography has largely been completed. As CT colonography now enters a new phase of widespread clinical implementation, perhaps the greatest challenge will be adequate training of radiologists in accurate interpretation. To address this critical need, Dr. Gernot Böhm has expertly crafted a wonderful teaching file of CT colonography cases. The quality and breadth of this case material, as well as the insightful commentary, reflect a deep understanding of the various interpretive pitfalls that may be encountered in clinical practice. For all radiologists interested in CT colonography, this enjoyable “ounce of prevention” will spare both themselves and their patients of more than a“pound of cure” by avoiding the painful need to learn these important lessons the hard way (i.e., with real patients hanging in the balance, as I was unfortunately forced to do). In this controlled manner, ascending the learning curve of CT colonography towards quality interpretation need not adversely affect a single patient. I am delighted to see this work translated into English, where its beneficial impact will be greatly expanded.My heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Böhm on this remarkable achievement! USA, August 2012Perry J. Pickhardt, MDProfessor of RadiologyChief, Gastrointestinal Imaging University of WisconsinSchool of Medicine & Public Health Madison, WI USA