Bowel wall visualisation at CT colonography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the quality of bowel wall visualisation at CT colonography and the impact of examination in the supine and prone positions.


METHODS
After bowel preparation, 111 patients underwent CT colonography. Air distension, degree of fluid redistribution with change in body position (supine and prone), influence of residual stool on bowel wall assessability, and quality of overall colon visualisation were evaluated using scales.


RESULTS
Thirty of 110 patients (27%) had complete overall visualisation of the colon wall and 52 (47%) had subtotal visualisation of a limited part of the colon. The entire colon was more often air-filled in the prone position (46%) than in the supine position (18%). Joint review of supine and prone data showed that for all colon segments, except the sigmoid (86%), > or =95% of the patients had complete air filling. All patients had residual fluid. In 75% to 99%, depending on segment, fluid did not interfere with the bowel wall visualisation in the combined evaluation of supine and prone data sets. Thirty-one patients had residual stool with potential negative influence on polyp detection.


CONCLUSIONS
The colon wall was completely, or almost completely, visualised in 75% of the patients, and examination in the supine and prone positions was necessary for complete visualisation.
Svensson
M H
MH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.
Svensson
E
E
Hellström
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception