CT colonography has been shown to be accurate in detection of colorectal neoplasia in enriched patient populations and is generally preferred by patients to conventional endoscopy and barium enema. It is advocated as an acceptable alternative for colorectal cancer screening and is increasingly used in the investigation of symptomatic patients. Ideally, like conventional colonoscopy, CT colonography requires a clean colon, free of residual stool and fluid. There is however good evidence that the arduous bowel purgation regimes required may produce adverse effects such as electrolyte imbalance, and are more detrimental to overall patient experience and compliance than any subsequent investigation. An ability to perform CT colonography with reduced bowel purgation, whilst maintaining acceptable diagnostic accuracy, would undoubtedly make the technique a more attractive proposition both for population screening and investigation of symptomatic patients.