X-ray dose received by patients in a population survey for colonic diverticular disease

Abstract

Recently, a considerable interest was stimulated in the hypothesis that diverticular disease of the colon is a deficiency disorder due to lack of fiber in the diet. To test this idea a method for the diagnosis of diverticular disease had to be found which was both feasible for epidemiological work and which conformed to the guidelines for research projects involving radiation to human subjects proposed by the WHO. The only reported method (Manousos et al., 1967) partially fulfilled the 1st requirement but perhaps not entirely the 2nd by today''s standards. Based on that technique, a Ba follow-through method is now described which meets both criteria. The main study on the incidence of diverticular disease in volunteers with different dietary habits, did not involve an exposure of more than an amount which fell within WHO Category 1 limits.