Polyethylene glycol solution (PEG) plus contrast medium vs PEG alone preparation for CT colonography and conventional colonoscopy in preoperative colorectal cancer staging.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the usefulness of combined polyethylene glycol solution plus contrast medium bowel preparation (PEG-C preparation) followed by dual-contrast computed tomography enema (DCCTE) and conventional colonoscopy. The main purpose of these examinations is the preoperative staging of already known tumors.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

One hundred patients with colorectal tumors were alternately allocated to either a polyethylene glycol solution preparation (PEG preparation) group (n=50) or a PEG-C preparation group (n=50) before undergoing conventional colonoscopy and computed tomographic (CT) colonography. After conventional colonoscopy, multidetector row CT scans were performed. Air images were reconstructed for both groups; contrast medium images were additionally reconstructed for the PEG-C preparation group. DCCTE images were a composite of air images and contrast medium images without use of dedicated electronic cleansing software. Quality scores (the presence or absence of blind spots of the colon) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Complete tumor images were obtained by DCCTE for all 50 (100%) lesions in the PEG-C preparation group, as compared with only nine of the 50 lesions (18%) in the PEG preparation group (air-contrast CT enema). The overall quality score in the PEG-C preparation group was significantly better than that in the PEG preparation group (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

DCCTE showed the entire colon without blind spots in nearly all patients in the PEG-C preparation group because the areas under residual fluid were reconstructed as contrast medium images. DCCTE and conventional colonoscopy after PEG-C preparation are feasible and safe procedures that can be used for preoperative evaluation in patients with colorectal cancer.