Chicago ? A procedure that lets doctors find abnormal growths in the colon through three-dimensional, computer-generated images is slightly more accurate and less invasive than conventional colonoscopy, research presented Monday suggests.

Researchers hope the results will encourage screenings among people who avoid conventional colonoscopy because of the discomfort associated with the process.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults over 50 years of age get a colonoscopy every 10 years. Less than half of those who should get screened do so, the society estimates.

“Virtual colonoscopy is an accurate screening tool, and if our methods are used, this hopefully will result in more widespread screening, especially for patients that avoid screenings,” said lead author Dr. Perry Pickhardt. “If we can screen more patients, we know it will prevent cancers and save lives.”

Even so, some patients have found the virtual colonoscopy less comfortable than standard colonoscopy. Critics also pointed out that if a growth is found, a conventional colonoscopy has to be performed anyway.

The study was presented Monday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, resulting in nearly 60,000 deaths each year. The detection and removal of growths, or polyps, can help reduce deaths and prevent cancer from developing.

In a conventional colonoscopy, patients take laxatives to cleanse their bowels 24 hours before the procedure. Patients are sedated before an instrument is inserted through the rectum that allows doctors to screen and remove any suspicious growths.

In a virtual colonoscopy, patients also take laxatives but are not sedated. A small rectal catheter is inserted, and patients hold their breath as a CT scanner takes X-rays of the colon that result in images doctors can scan for polyps.

Researchers studied 1,233 adults who had an average risk of having colonic growths. Virtual colonoscopy found polyps that were at least 10 millimeters in diameter 93.8 percent of the time and discovered growths of at least 8 millimeters 93.9 percent of the time.

In comparison, conventional colonoscopy found polyps that were at least 10 millimeters in diameter 87.5 percent of the time and discovered growths of at least 8 millimeters 91.5 percent of the time.

The study also found virtual colonoscopy did not have many false positives.