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

Purpose: 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. Materials and methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.