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Acute small bowel ischemia: CT imaging findings
Enrica Segatto1, Koenraad J Mortelé, Hoon Ji
1Department of Radiology, Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Seminars in Ultrasound, CT, and MR
|November 19, 2003
Summary
Small bowel ischemia, a reduction in blood supply to the small intestine, has diverse causes and presentations. Computed tomography (CT) aids diagnosis, but findings are often non-specific, requiring integrated clinical and imaging data.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Small bowel ischemia involves reduced blood flow to the small intestine, leading to varied clinical and pathological outcomes.
- Causes are multifactorial, including thromboembolism, nonocclusive events, obstruction, and inflammatory conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathogenesis and causes of acute small bowel ischemia.
- To highlight the role of computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing this condition.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on small bowel ischemia.
- Analysis of computed tomography (CT) findings in acute small bowel ischemia.
Main Results:
- Computed tomography (CT) accurately detects ischemic bowel changes and can suggest underlying causes.
- Common CT findings are not specific, necessitating a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging data for diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Familiarity with the pathogenesis and CT signs of small bowel ischemia is crucial for timely diagnosis.
- Radiologists can improve recognition of ischemic small bowel disease by understanding the spectrum of CT findings and clinical context.