Table 1 Proposed indications and scope for performing water enema multidetector CT (WE-MDCT)

Suspected or known colorectal carcinoma

Local staging

Upstream bowel exploration if endoscopy is incomplete

Planning surgery

Distant staging

Colonic stricture of unclear nature

Assess stricture features

Planning endoscopic biopsy or surgery

Upstream bowel exploration if endoscopy is incomplete

Colonic diverticulosis

Disease distribution

Exclusion of complications

Planning surgery

Upstream bowel exploration if endoscopy is incomplete

Acute/subacute diverticulitis^a

Obviate endoscopy

Detection or exclusion of complications

Planning surgery

Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative, Crohn’s, or indeterminate colitis)

Disease severity

Disease distribution

Differential diagnosis between UC and CD

Colorectal cancer screening

Assess stricture features

Upstream bowel exploration if endoscopy is incomplete

Planning surgery or endoscopic dilatation

Post-surgical anatomy

Acute exacerbations of inflammatory bowel diseases^a

Disease severity

Disease distribution

Obviate endoscopy

Detection or exclusion of complications

Bowel endometriosis (2)

Disease detection and staging