Dr. Abraham Dachman, excellence in imaging of colorectal cancer

 

A pioneer in the field

In 1994, when he first heard about Virtual Colonoscopy, Dr. Abraham Dachman knew it was going to catch on.

 

“The technology had great potential. I think it was fairly obvious that we needed another choice” for imaging the colon.

 

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. It usually develops from abnormal growths called polyps in the colon and rectum.

 

Dr. Dachman's team was one of a few early pioneers in the field, publishing the second major study on the procedure, in 1998. Soon after, he began offering the procedure to his patients.

 

Be an educated consumer

Patients come to Dr. Dachman for his leadership and expertise in the field. But he is careful to educate his patients so they can make the best decision for their care. “Point number one, I remind them that this is a CT (Computed Tomography) scan, not a colonoscopy.”

 

"We think it’s a good test, but each test has its advantages and disadvantages," he adds. For example, Virtual Colonoscopy is less invasive, and there’s no need for sedation.  However, if polyps are found, a colonoscopy may also be needed. 

 

"You can go back to work the same day, and we’re starting to offer same-day optical colonoscopy,” Dr. Dachman says. “If the patient so chooses, he can have the test early, be read within an hour, and then go to colonoscopy."

 

But for the majority of patients whose Virtual Colonoscopies show no signs of polyps, he says, "you will have had the less invasive test."

 

Because of the variety of options for imaging the colon, patient education is a large part of Dr. Dachman’s job. "We want you to be an educated consumer, and know the pros and cons of each test."

 

The promise of Virtual Colonoscopy

Dr. Dachman hopes that broader availability of Virtual Colonoscopy will convince more people to get tested, and to have any polyps removed in their early stages.

 

"We know that removing polyps seen by the gastroenterologist on any morphologic exam is protective for colorectal cancer for that segment. So there’s every reason to believe that this will hold true for Virtual Colonoscopy," he explains.

 

Early detection and prevention has a ripple effect in reducing the costs of colorectal cancer, Dr. Dachman predicts. "The more people get tested, the more people will be diagnosed, and the more people diagnosed early, there will be an appropriate reduction in costs associated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for advanced disease."

 

- June 2008

 

+ Dr. Dachman at The University of Chicago Medical Center

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