Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy

Gastrointestinal motility studies evaluate digestive tract function.

First, gastric emptying studies involve ingesting a meal containing a radioactive tracer, typically technetium-99m sulfur colloid, mixed with scrambled eggs.

The patient is then positioned under a scintiscanner to track the tracer's movement through the gastrointestinal tract.

It assesses the rate at which food empties from the stomach, helping diagnose gastroparesis.

Next, Colonic transit studies evaluate colonic motility by having the patient swallow a capsule containing 20 radionuclide markers.

Abdominal X-rays are performed every 24 hours until all markers pass through the colon, typically over 4 to 5 days.

This helps detect obstructive defecation syndromes.

Lastly, Virtual colonoscopy, or CT colonography, is a noninvasive imaging technique for examining the colon and rectum for abnormalities.

The patient undergoes bowel preparation for a clear colon.

Then, the patient lies on a table while a technician inserts a thin tube into the rectum.

The colon is filled with air or carbon dioxide, and CT scans are taken to detect abnormalities.