Case report
Colovesical fistula causing an uncommon reason for failure of computed tomography colonography: a case report
Department of Radiology, Geneva University Hospital, Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 4, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2012, 6:214 doi:10.1186/1752-1947-6-214
Published: 23 July 2012Abstract
Introduction
Computed tomography colonography, or virtual colonoscopy, is a good alternative to optical colonoscopy. However, suboptimal patient preparation or colon distension may reduce the diagnostic accuracy of this imaging technique.
Case presentation
We report the case of an 83-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a five-month history of pneumaturia and fecaluria and an acute episode of macrohematuria, leading to a high clinical suspicion of a colovesical fistula. The fistula was confirmed by standard contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Optical colonoscopy was performed to exclude the presence of an underlying colonic neoplasm. Since optical colonoscopy was incomplete, computed tomography colonography was performed, but also failed due to inadequate colon distension. The insufflated air directly accumulated within the bladder via the large fistula.
Conclusions
Clinicians should consider colovesical fistula as a potential reason for computed tomography colonography failure.
