A virtual colonoscopy is doing a colonoscopy with an x-ray machine. Instead of a physician, a gastroenterologist using an instrument to go up into a colon, there's no instrument involved ...

During a colonoscopy, if abnormal growths ... During the procedure, the doctor puts a tube-like instrument called a colonoscope into your rectum. It’s long but only about a half-inch across.

They involve inserting specialized instruments or tools into the digestive system, either through the mouth or the anus.

Q. When seniors gather, it doesn’t seem to take long before we get to our aches and pains. You must get more than your share of that. A. My friend, Pete, has instituted a colonoscopy rule.