Correlation of Bowel Wall Thickening Seen Using Computerized Tomography With Colonoscopies: A Preliminary Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Bowel wall thickening (BWT) is a frequent observation in abdominal computerized tomography imaging (CTi).
• Accurate interpretation of BWT on CTi is essential for patient management.
• Prospective evaluation of BWT findings aids in understanding its diagnostic utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively assess and manage patients presenting with BWT on abdominal CTi.
• To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CTi in detecting BWT.
• To determine the common pathologies associated with BWT.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 64 patients with BWT on abdominal CTi.
• Patients were admitted to emergency and general surgery departments.
• All patients underwent colonoscopy for further evaluation of BWT.

Main Results:

• The study included 64 patients (36% female, 64% male) with a mean age of 56.2 years.
• The positive predictive value of CTi for BWT was 87.5%.
• Common pathologies identified via colonoscopy included neoplasia and inflammatory bowel disease.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal CTi is a valuable tool for diagnosing BWT, often revealing underlying pathologies.
• Colonoscopy plays a vital role in the differential diagnosis of BWT identified by CTi.