3-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION OF THE LARGE-BOWEL - A POTENTIAL TOOL FORASSESSING TARGETED DRUG-DELIVERY AND COLONIC PATHOLOGY

A study has been undertaken to assess the feasibility of three-dimensi onal imaging of the dispersion of a non-absorbable tracer released int o the colon of normal subjects. Six healthy volunteers were selected w ho were participating in a scintigraphic study designed to assess the spreading of 1 MBq indium-111 Amberlite resin delivered from a delayed capsule system targeted to release in the ascending colon. In each ca se subjects were imaged using a rotating gamma camera over a data coll ection period of approximately 20 min. Three-dimensional volume render ed images demonstrated good visualisation of the dispersion of the tra cer throughout the ascending, transverse and descending colon and prov ided good anatomical visualisation of the shape of the colon, not prev iously apparent from the planar views. The present study demonstrates for the first time, the successful three-dimensional imaging of a radi olabelled tracer dispersed throughout the colon and opens up the prosp ects for more detailed study of quantification of the volume and distr ibution of tracers contained within the colon.