GI tract wall visualization and distension during abdominal and pelvic multidetector CT with a neutral barium sulphate suspension: comparison with positive barium sulphate suspension and with water

M R Oliva; S M Erturk; T Ichikawa; T Rocha; P R Ros; S G Silverman; K J Mortele

doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.628

Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology (Jul 2012)

GI tract wall visualization and distension during abdominal and pelvic multidetector CT with a neutral barium sulphate suspension: comparison with positive barium sulphate suspension and with water

M R Oliva,
S M Erturk,
T Ichikawa,
T Rocha,
P R Ros,
S G Silverman,
K J Mortele

Affiliations

M R Oliva: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
S M Erturk: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
T Ichikawa: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
T Rocha: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
P R Ros: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
S G Silverman: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
K J Mortele: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/jbr-btr.628
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 95, no. 4
pp. 237 – 242

Abstract

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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. Materials and 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.

Published in Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology

ISSN: 2514-8281 (Online)
Publisher: Ubiquity Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: http://www.jbsr.be/

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