Three-dimensional reconstruction of computed tomography colonography discloses anatomic features associated with colonoscopy failure.

Objectives: Three-dimensional virtual reality (3D VR) permits precise reconstruction of computed tomography (CT) images, and these allow precise measurements of colonic anatomical parameters. Colonoscopy proves challenging in a subset of patients, and thus CT colonoscopy (CTC) is often required to visualize the entire colon. The aim of the study was to determine whether 3D reconstructions of the colon could help identify and quantify the key anatomical features leading to colonoscopy failure.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Methods: Using 3D VR technology, we reconstructed and compared the length of various colonic segments and number of bends and colonic width in 10 cases of CTC in technically failed prior colonoscopies to 10 cases of CTC performed for non-technically failure indications.

Results: We found significant elongation of the sigmoid colon (71 ± 23 cm 35 ± 9;  = 0.01) and of pancolonic length (216 ± 38 cm 158 ± 20 cm;  = 0.001) in cases of technically failed colonoscopy. There was also a significant increase in the number of colonic angles (17.7 ± 3.2 12.7 ± 2.4;  = 0.008) in failed colonoscopy cases.

Conclusion: Increased sigmoid and pancolonic length and more colonic bends are novel factors associated with technical failure of colonoscopy.