Vahid Yaghmai MD, Presenter: Software support, Siemens AG

Warren Mark Brandwein BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nancy Hammond, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ayis T. Pyrros MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Aheed Jaweed Siddiqi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paul Nikolaidis MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the degree of gastrointestinal distension and visualization of bowel wall detail when using water versus a commercially available oral contrast agent containing low density barium sulfate and sorbitol (VoLumen) on multislice CT, utilizing the same patient population.

Two abdominal radiologists, blinded to the oral contrast agent administered, evaluated bowel distention and bowel wall detail in 54 multislice CT scans of 27 patients who had been imaged repeatedly for evaluation and follow up of pancreatic pathology. Each patient had been imaged twice, once with water as the oral contrast agent and once with VoLumen. Scans were performed on different dates and were randomized. Each patient had received either 1200 mL of water or 1300 mL of VoLumen before each scan. The radiologists using a subjective grading scale (1: none-5: excellent) evaluated gastric, small bowel and right colon distension on each scan in consensus. Visibility of bowel wall detail for each bowel segment was also graded utilizing a similar scale (1:poor-5: excellent). The left colon was not assessed, as the institutional protocol did not allow enough time for oral contrast to reach the left colon.

The mean scores for VoLumen and water, respectively, when assessing bowel distension were: Stomach (3.67 vs 2.59, p=0.0003), duodenum (2.25 vs. 2.06, p=0.5805), jejunum (2.59 vs. 2.19, p=0.1342), ileum (3.44 vs. 2.41, p=0.0004), right colon (2.2 versus 1.2, p=0.0001). The mean scores for visualization of bowel wall for VoLumen and water, respectively, were: Stomach (3.15 vs. 2.26, p=0.0019), duodenum (2.06 vs. 1.56, p=0.0719), jejunum (2.22 vs. 1.78, p=0.1233), ileum (3.15 vs. 2.19, p=0.0008), colon (1.93 vs. 1.15, p=0.001).

When comparing both VoLumen and water on the same patient population, VoLumen significantly improves distention of the stomach, ileum and colon. VoLumen also improves visualization of bowel wall detail.

VoLumen significantly improves visualization of the bowel wall detail and distension when compared with water.

Yaghmai, V, Brandwein, W, Hammond, N, Pyrros, A, Siddiqi, A, Nikolaidis, P, Comparison of Water versus VoLumen in Multislice CT Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Distension and Bowel Wall Detail in the Same Patient Population.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4436527.html