[Prospective study of the clinical signs, diet, and radiologic changes of the small intestine and the colon in 106 patients with functional intestinal disorders].

A prospective statistical study of clinical symptoms, radiological modifications of the colon and small bowel as judged by a morphometric method and dietary habits was performed in 106 patients who presented with functional intestinal disorders. Four different associations of symptoms and signs were found: a) pain, sometimes heavy, in the left upper quadrant and the ombilical region was associated with morphometric modifications of the small bowel: increased diameter of the upper part, decreased diameter and increased number of folds in the lower part of ileum; b) slight pain of the two upper quadrants and the two flanks was associated with flatulence, and was not correlated with modifications of the radiological aspect of the small bowel and colon; c) constipation and diarrhea were not correlated with any type of morphometric modifications of the colon; d) constipation was significantly correlated with low fiber diet.