Degree of colonic distension: intrapatient comparison between CT colonography and CT with water enema

PurposeCompare colonic distension using CT colonography (CTC) and CT with water enema (CTWE) in the same patients.Methods and materialsTwenty-seven patients who underwent both CTC and CTWE, considering separately supine (CTC-S) and prone (CTC-P) acquisition of CTC were included. The colon was divided into six segments, performing both a qualitative and quantitative analysis.ResultsAdequate distension of sigmoid colon was more frequently achieved with CTC-P and CTWE compared to CTC-S (P< .05). CTC-P and CTWE showed better distension of the left colon compared to CTC-S (P< .01 and P= .03 regarding sigmoid colon, respectively; P= .01 and P= .03 regarding descending colon, respectively).ConclusionsComputed tomography (CT) studies of the colon should be customized to fulfill the clinical query.