Sono-enterocolonography by oral water administration.

A new ultrasound technique for intestinal examination, named "sono-enterocolonography by oral water administration," was devised. The diagnostic usefulness and limitations of this procedure were studied in 56 subjects including 42 normal patients, 10 patients with 13 colonic polyps and 4 patients with colon carcinomas. Except for the rectum, almost all the intestines were clearly visualized by ultra-sonography as tubular structures filled with water. In every case, ileocecal valve movement was clearly observed dynamically. Eight of the 9 elevated polypoid lesions of the bowel, ranging in size from 10 mm to 20 mm, were detected by this method without any special pretreatment. Although this method may not be indicated for the screening of minute lesions, it may possibly be useful as a supportive diagnostic modality for intestinal disorders, especially in the ileocecal region.