Adult necrotizing enterocolitis and non occlusive mesenteric ischemia

Adult necrotizing enterocolitis and non occlusive mesenteric ischemia are rare causes of acute abdomen in adults. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is often difficult in these cases. Here, four cases of massive bowel necrosis with varying segments of small and large bowel involvement are described, all of whom underwent surgery. These cases give an opportunity to review the literature on such lethal diseases including non occlusive intestinal necrosis, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and adult necrotizing enterocolitis. The similarities and differences in etiology, pathophysiology, clinical and radiological findings are discussed.