Colon Shape in Imaging and Abdominal Symptoms (COSIMA)

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Colon Shape in Imaging and Abdominal Symptoms (COSIMA)

• IRAS ID

  314710

• Contact name

  Edmund Godfrey

• Contact email

  edmund.godfrey@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 29 days

• Research summary

  Patients presenting with non-specific abdominal symptoms (e.g. bloating, discomfort, irregular bowel habits) represent a particular challenge to the health care system. These symptoms are often due to various conditions that are summarised under the umbrella term ‘Irritable Bowel Syndrome’ (IBS). Up to today, there is no reliable diagnostic test confirming or ruling out presence of IBS. Hence, guidelines recommend to establish the diagnosis by symptom-based questionnaires. Guidance on treatment remains vague and patients are often unsatisfied with the management of their condition.
  Clinical experience suggests a link between IBS symptoms and the anatomical configuration of the large bowel on imaging. Aim of our study is to utilise this association in order to establish a reliable tool for the diagnosis of a subtype of IBS associated with constipation and related symptoms. This analysis will be based on a simple, novel scoring system applied to bowel imaging. For this purpose, patients referred to CUH for a bowel-specific CT scan will be invited to participate in this study, independent from the reason for which the scan had been requested. All participants will need to complete a bowel specific symptom questionnaire. The data from this symptom assessment will analysed in conjunction with the scores assigned to each bowel CT scan after review by an expert radiologist and/or expert radiographer. This proof-of-concept study has been designed in cooperation between the Department of Radiology at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Department of Gastroenterology at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/SC/0474

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Jan 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion