Abstract
Although considered an indirect test to evaluate colonic motility, colonic transit-time assessment provides a definition for constipation by converting an otherwise hopelessly subjective symptom to an objective part of the medical record. Its most important role lies in excluding factitious constipation; however, its association with video defecography is crucial. Additionally, colonic transit times can help uncover causative diagnoses by stratifying motility disorders into two main patterns: colonic inertia and outlet obstruction. Several factors, including diet, physical activity, and psychological and hormonal factors may affect digestive transit-time results; therefore, some variation is expected. The most commonly used technique to measure colonic transit time involves two abdominal radiographs taken on days 3 and 5 after a single-day ingestion of 24 solid radiopaque markers.
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Habr-Gama, A., Neves Jorge, J.M. (2008). Radiography and Radiopaque Markers in Colonic Transit-Time Studies. In: Imaging Atlas of the Pelvic Floor and Anorectal Diseases. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0809-0_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0809-0_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
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