Radiological investigation of obstipation and outlet obstruction

The aim of this review article is to present the role and extent of gastroi ntestinal radiology in adults with chronic obstipation and stool outlet obs truction. The radiological investigations are well established second-line diagnostic procedures. Special attention is given to the indications as wel l as to the imaging techniques which include barium enema, measurement of c olon transit time and dynamic colpocystorectoviscerography. New emerging mo dalities such as functional MR Imaging provide an objective, unifying diagn ostic approach to the pelvic floor and the colon. This will contribute to a n improved perception of the composite entity of the pelvic floor and of th e interactions of its adjacent structures. Consequently the longstanding "c ompartmentalization" practiced by the different medical specialities might be avoided in the future.