Study on Colonic Transit in Man Using Colonoscintigraphy

• Published in: Nippon Daicho Komonbyo Gakkai Zasshi Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 18 - 26
• Main Author: Murakami, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japan Society of Coloproctology 1987
• ISSN: 0047-1801; 1882-9619; 1882-9619
• DOI: 10.3862/jcoloproctology.40.18

The main function of the large bowel is to store, mix, propel or absord its contents and to secrete. However, the mechanism of transit has not been well studied apart from its close relationship with constipation or diarrhea. A new isotopic method for measuring colonic transit in man has been established using 99mTc-DTPA in combination with a gamma camera linked to a computer which has been named "colonoscintigraphy". In 6 cases, a catheter was inserted into the cecum using a guide wire inserted through a colonoscope. After a period of rest, 1 mCi of 99mTc-DTPA was injected into the cecum through the cathter with 75 ml of tepid saline water, with the subject in a supine position. Scintillation counting was started immediately and this lasted for 70-90 minutes. In all cases, clear colonoscintigrams were recognized and colonic transit, extending to the rectum, was indicated. Colonograms of 5 ROIs (regions of interest), designated at the cecum and ascending colon (A), transverse colon (T), descending colon (D), sigmoid colon (S) and rectum (R) on the colonoscintigrams, were obtained and studied. Colonoscintigraphy is a useful method of physiological and clinical research for determining long-term continuous colonic transit in man.