Published online Nov 14, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i42.9394
Peer-review started: June 30, 2016
First decision: July 29, 2016
Revised: August 24, 2016
Accepted: September 12, 2016
Article in press: September 12, 2016
Published online: November 14, 2016
Processing time: 135 Days and 13.9 Hours
To evaluate the morphology of the colon in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by using computed tomography colonography (CTC).
Twelve patients with diarrhea type IBS (IBS-D), 13 patients with constipation type IBS (IBS-C), 12 patients with functional constipation (FC) and 14 control patients underwent colonoscopy following CTC. The lengths of the rectosigmoid colon, transverse colon and the total colon were measured. The diameters of the rectum, sigmoid colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and ascending colon were measured.
The mean length of the total colon was 156.5 cm in group C, 158.9 cm in group IBS-D, 172.0 cm in group IBS-C, and 188.8 cm in group FC. The total colon in group FC was significantly longer than that in group C (P < 0.05). The mean length of the rectosigmoid colon was 56.2 cm, 55.9 cm, 63.6cm, and 77.4 cm (NS). The mean length of the transverse colon was 49.9 cm, 43.1 cm, 57.0 cm, and 55.0 cm. The transverse colon in group IBS-D was significantly shorter than that in group IBS-C (P < 0.01) and that in group FC (P = 0.02). The mean diameter of the sigmoid colon was 4.0 cm, 3.3 cm, 4.2 cm, and 4.3 cm (NS). The mean diameter of the descending colon was 3.6 cm, 3.1 cm, 3.8 cm, and 4.3 cm. The descending colon diameter in group IBS-D was significantly less than that in group IBS-C (P = 0.03) and that in group FC (P < 0.001). The descending colon diameter in group FC was significantly greater than that in group C (P = 0.04). The mean diameter of the transverse colon was 4.4 cm, 3.3 cm, 4.2 cm, and 5.0 cm (NS).
CT colonography might contribute the clarification of subtypes of IBS.
Core tip: We report the morphology difference between diarrhea type IBS (IBS-D) and constipation type IBS (IBS-C). 12 patients with IBS-D, 13 patients with IBS-C, 12 patients with functional constipation (FC) and 14 control patients underwent colonoscopy following computed tomography colonography (CTC). The lengths and the diameters of the colon were measured. The rectosigmoid colon and transverse colon in IBS-D are shorter than that in IBS-C and FC. The sigmoid colon and descending colon in IBS-D has a diameter smaller than that in IBS-C and FC. The colonic morphology in IBS-D might be different from that in IBS-C and FC. CTC might contribute the clarification of IBS.