title: Prospective evaluation of colonic obstruction with computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine whether computed tomography (CT) can satisfactorily diagnose and evaluate patients with suspected colonic obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients with suspected colonic obstruction were evaluated prospectively by CT and compared with the gold standards of surgery and/or endoscopy in 65 patients, clinical course in nine, and contrast enema (CE) in one. A limited comparison between CT and CE (26) patients was also made in those patients who had both studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT successfully diagnosed colonic obstruction in 45 of 47 patients (96% sensitivity). Pseudo-obstruction was correctly diagnosed in 26 of 28 patients (93% specificity). CT correctly localized the point of obstruction in 44 of 47 patients (94%). CE successfully diagnosed obstruction in only 20 of 25 patients (80% sensitivity).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, CT proved to be a satisfactory modality in evaluating patients with suspected colonic obstruction. CT may in certain circumstances be preferable to the traditional CE in evaluating these patients.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Department of Radiology, New York, NY 10019, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frager
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Rovno
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bashist
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate