Fecal tag CT colonography with a limited 2-day bowel preparation following incomplete colonoscopy

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and patient tolerance of a 2-day limited fecal tag bowel preparation in computed tomographic colonography (CTC) performed for incomplete conventional colonoscopy (CC) patients.

Seventy-five patients who underwent a CTC examination fbecause of incomplete CC were included. A low-residue diet was given for 2 days before CTC. Fecal tagging (FT) was done using a barium sulfate suspension. The quality of the preparation, success of tagging and patient experience with the bowel preparation were investigated.

Four hundred fifty bowel segments were evaluated. The number of solid stool balls of 6-9 mm size was 284; the corresponding figure was 93 for solid stool balls ≥ 10 mm. Residual fluid was present in about one-third of the segments. The fecal tagging efficacy for ≥ 6 mm residual stool balls was 92 %. Overall, 16 (21.3 %) patients presented with colonic lesions at CTC. Three out of four colonic mass lesions had not been diagnosed with CC. Most patients reported mild discomfort.

FT-CTC performed after a limited 2-day bowel preparation seems to be a technically feasible, safe and acceptable procedure that allows a complete a colonic study in incomplete CC patients.