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Colonic bowel wall thickening: is there a need for endoscopic evaluation?
Martina Troppmann1, Elisabeth Lippert, Okka W Hamer
1Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany. martina.troppmann@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
International Journal of Colorectal Disease
|December 14, 2011
Summary
Colonic bowel wall thickening on CT scans is uncommon. Endoscopic evaluation, recommended for detected thickening, revealed pathological findings in 80% of patients, suggesting its clinical importance.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Colonic bowel wall thickening on CT scans lacks clear clinical relevance and diagnostic guidelines.
- The significance of this finding necessitates further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the detection of colonic bowel wall thickening on CT scans.
- To correlate CT findings with subsequent endoscopic evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT scan reports from 2003-2009 at University Hospital Regensburg.
- Exclusion of patients with pre-existing conditions causing bowel wall thickening.
Main Results:
- Sixty-two patients with colonic bowel wall thickening were identified.
- Endoscopic evaluation was performed in 44% of these patients.
- Malignancy was suspected in 15% and confirmed in two patients; 67% showed benign findings.
Conclusions:
- Colonic bowel wall thickening is an infrequent CT finding.
- Endoscopic evaluation is recommended for detected bowel wall thickening.
- Pathological findings, including malignancy, were significant in evaluated patients.
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