Can X-ray Or CAT Scan Identify Faecal Matter Stuck To The Colon Wall?

Posted on Sat, 24 Sep 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 24 Sep 2016 Answered on

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Can an x-ray or CAT scan show if there is faecal matter stuck to the colon wall. I was recently admitted to the hospital with extreme pain on the left side they did a CAT scan to rule out perforation or rupture and then sent me home with more antibiotics for diverticulitis when I did not show infection the days to follow I had three enemas with severely hard faecal matter that I could not pass by myself they they then told me to take MiraLAX or restore lax for five days to ensure that this would not happen again I did and now I had severe gas and pain on the left side and only watery diarrhoea with small soft pieces what should I do

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This tests do not tell anything about stool stuck.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

X-ray can only tell that there is bowels obstruction without pointing to the reason.
CT can tell that there is diverticle inflammation or perforation, but again it does not clearly visualize stool stuck.
But for sure it would tell if there is a perforation or not. Same with an abscess.

If you do suffer from diverticulitis, you should have Rifaximine treatment for 7 days. This should stop the diarrhea, cure the inflammation. Fiber and probiotic are much better for your large intestine than Miralax.

Hope this helps.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (20 minutes later)

My problem is that I keep getting backed up and cannot have complete stools but CT shows no blockage

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Colonoscopy should be done.

Detailed Answer:
Than you should have colonoscopy done as the CT can miss some large intestine issues.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (6 minutes later)

I had a colonoscopy done May 16 and the area where I'm having issues it's showed nothing after the colonoscopy I was good for about a week and then the issue started again this has been a mystery and they cannot figure out what is going other on other than that I get constipated to a severe blockage state

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Long sigmoid colon can be the reason.

Detailed Answer:
Have you had a test called CT enteroclysis? It can visualize which part of the large intestine is the problem. You may have long sigmoid colon which gets twisted causing the obstruction. Colonoscopy usually temporaly untwists it so the symptoms disappear.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (6 minutes later)

Is there something I can do to stop that from happening this is a recent problem

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can not prevent it.

Detailed Answer:
There is no way you can prevent it. It can be fixed with surgery only.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar