title: Gastrointestinal tract wall visualization and distention during abdominal and pelvic multidetector CT with a neutral barium sulphate suspension: comparison with positive barium sulphate suspension and with water.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When examining patients with contrast-enhanced multidetector-row CT, we determined if the stomach and small bowel were visualized and distended better with a neutral barium sulphate suspension than with positive barium sulphate suspension or water.
  
  
  METHODS
  After obtaining approval from our institutional review board, 156 patients (women: 84; mean age: 54 yrs) with no history of gastrointestinal tract disease were randomized prospectively to receive orally either 900 ml of neutral (0.1% w/v) barium sulphate suspension (n = 53), 900 ml of positive (2.1% w/v) barium sulphate suspension (n = 53), or 900 ml of water (n = 50), prior to undergoing contrast-enhanced abdominal and pelvic multidetector-row CT. Two independent radiologists evaluated the stomach, and small bowel, for luminal distension and wall visualization, using a five point scale. Results were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The walls of the stomach, and small bowel were visualized better in patients who were administered neutral barium sulphate suspension than those who were administered either positive barium sulphate suspension (p < 0.01) or water (p < 0.01). In patients who received neutral barium sulphate suspension, the stomach and small bowel were distended better compared to patients administered water (p < 0.01); the stomach, duodenum, and ileum were distended better compared to patients administered positive barium sulphate suspension (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When examining patients with intravenous contrast-enhanced abdominal and pelvic multidetector-row CT, orally administered neutral barium sulphate suspension allows the gastrointestinal tract to be visualized and distended better than either positive barium sulphate suspension, or water.
authors.affiliation: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02115, USA. maria_oliva@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Erturk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mortele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013535:Suspensions; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D013535:Suspensions; D014867:Water; D001466:Barium Sulfate