Efficacy of barium-based fecal tagging for CT colonography: a comparison between the use of high and low density barium suspensions in a Korean population - a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
This preliminarily study was designed to determine and to compare the efficacy of two commercially available barium-based fecal tagging agents for CT colonography (CTC) (high-density [40% w/v] and low-density [4.6% w/v] barium suspensions) in a population in Korea.


METHODS
In a population with an identified with an average-risk for colorectal cancer, 15 adults were administered three doses of 20 ml 40% w/v barium for fecal tagging (group I) and 15 adults were administered three doses of 200 ml 4.6% w/v barium (group II) for fecal tagging. Excluding five patients in group I and one patient in group II that left the study, ten patients in group I and 14 patients in group II were finally included in the analysis. Two experienced readers evaluated the CTC images in consensus regarding the degree of tagging of stool pieces 6 mm or larger. Stool pieces were confirmed with the use of standardized CTC criteria or the absence of matched lesions as seen on colonoscopy. The rates of complete fecal tagging were analyzed on a per-lesion and a per-segment basis and were compared between the patients in the two groups.


RESULTS
Per-lesion rates of complete fecal tagging were 52% (22 of 42; 95% CI, 37.7-66.6%) in group I and 78% (28 of 36; 95% CI, 61.7-88.5%) in group II. The difference between the two groups did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.285). The per-segment rates of complete tagging were 33% (6 of 18; 95% CI, 16.1%-56.4%) in group I and 60% (9 of 15; 95% CI, 35.7%-80.3%) in group II; again, the difference between the two groups did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.171).


CONCLUSIONS
Barium-based fecal tagging using both the 40% w/v and the 4.6% w/v barium suspensions showed moderate tagging efficacy. The preliminary comparison did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the tagging efficacy between the use of the two tagging agents, despite the tendency toward better tagging with the use of the 4.6% w/v barium suspension.
Kim
Min Ju
MJ
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Seong Ho
SH
Lee
Seung Soo
SS
Byeon
Jeong Sik
JS
Choi
Eugene K
EK
Kim
Jung Hoon
JH
Kim
Yeoung Nam
YN
Kim
Ah Young
AY
Ha
Hyun Kwon
HK
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001464:Barium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013535:Suspensions
D003287:Contrast Media; D013535:Suspensions; D001464:Barium