commitment dedication collaboration - VHA Office of Research ...

Bringing Scientific Innovation
to Veterans Health
Colon cancer is among the most preventable
of cancers. Unlike lung cancer or breast cancer
screening, which look for cancerous tumors, colon
cancer screening looks for precursor lesions that can
be removed before they become cancerous. “The
problem,” says SFVAMC Chief of Radiology Judy
Yee, MD, “is that only 40 percent of Americans
who should be screened for colon cancer actually
get screened.”
Dr. Yee can understand why: current conventional
screening methods such as colonoscopy are
considered invasive and uncomfortable. Fortunately,
Dr. Yee can offer Veterans a less invasive alternative:
virtual colonoscopy, which uses x-ray technology to
create a complete three-dimensional picture of the
entire colon in just minutes. “We’ve demonstrated
that it’s just as good as conventional colonoscopy
at detecting precancerous lesions,” says Dr. Yee.
“What’s more, it also reveals previously unsuspected
lesions, tumors, and other problems in nearby
organs such as the liver and kidneys.”
Dr. Yee concedes that since she began working on
virtual colonoscopy over a decade ago, acceptance
of the new procedure in the medical community
has not been as swift as she might have liked.
“Nonetheless, thanks in large part to the initial
landmark work that was done here at the San
Francisco VA, virtual colonoscopy has recently been
endorsed by the American Cancer Society in their
cancer screening guidelines,” she notes proudly.
“In fact, in March 2010, President Obama’s colon
cancer screening was performed using virtual
colonoscopy. So we’re definitely moving into a phase
where this technology will be disseminated and
become widely available to millions of Americans.”
For Dr. Yee and her VA colleagues in radiology,
imaging goes well beyond thecolon. In 2008, Dr. Yee
presided over the grand opening of the 3D Imaging
Laboratory at SFVAMC. “This facility offers our
Veterans cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, non-invasive
3D imaging of any part of the body as a tool in
diagnosis and treatment,” she says. “We can develop
3D models of any organ, rotate them in any direction
or orientation, and zoom in and out at will.” Imaging
is not restricted to the major organs: “We see a lot
of patients with vascular disease, and we are able
to use 3D images of blood vessels to better evaluate
large and small vessel involvement.”
“The 3D lab is also a medical educational tool,” says
Dr. Yee. “Just getting a good image is not enough.
It’s essential to know how to correctly interpret what
you’re seeing. Besides all the UCSF residents who
rotate through here every month, I have medical
students from all over the country who come here
to work with me on 3D imaging research. We have
research fellows, and we train radiologists here
as well. Four times a year, we hold an intensive
interactive workshop on performing and interpreting
virtual colonoscopy. Physicians come from all over
the world to train with us. We have an international
presence.”
NCIRE Report 2008 and 2009 page 9