فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background: Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint in the general population. Given the long transit time of fecal material and abnormal aggregation of feces in the colon in chronic constipation, some anatomical changes such as increase in diameter or elongation of the colonic segments may be expected. Sometimes in abdominal radiological examinations, like CT scans that were performed for any clinical reason, these changes are evident. Objectives: The question is whether they are normal variations or secondary to chronic constipation. In the literature review, we did not find any clear answer to this question. This problem encouraged us to set up a new study to clarify the answer. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (P = 0.105), height (P = 0.239), weight (P = 0.220), the maximum diameter of ascending (P = 0.227), descending (P = 0.136) and transverse colon (P = 0.613) and rectum (P = 0.712). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the diagnosis of constipation may not be drawn from anatomic changes of colon in radiologic studies.