Radiology, Vol 151, 597-599, Copyright © 1984 by Radiological Society of North America
Polypoid lesions of the sigmoid colon: a comparison of single-contrast, double-contrast, and biphasic examinations
A de Roos, J Hermans and JO Op den Orth
The single-contrast (SC), double-contrast (DC), and biphasic examinations
of the sigmoid colon in 51 patients with histologically proved sigmoid
polyps 1.0 cm or greater in diameter were reviewed. In each case the polyps
were radiographically detected and visualized by endoscopy. The radiographs
of 49 patients without sigmoid polyps were similarly reviewed. The biphasic
approach was significantly superior to the single-contrast examination in
the detection of sigmoid polyps (p less than 0.05). The differences between
SC and DC examinations as well as between DC and biphasic examinations were
not significant. In the presence of diverticulosis, however, the biphasic
approach proved to be significantly more sensitive than the DC examination.
The greater sensitivity of the biphasic examination compared with SC was of
borderline significance. It is concluded that in the presence of
diverticulosis a combination of single- and double-contrast techniques can
improve the sensitivity of the examination significantly in the detection
of polypoid lesions.
