Computed tomography of the ileocecal region

The CT scans in 25 patients without ileocecal pathology and 52 patients with ileocecal abnormalities were retrospectively reviewed. The ileocecal region was identified in 18/25 (72%) of patients without pathology. Thirty of 52 patients with ileocecal pathology had inflammatory disease: Crohn's (13), appendicitis (9), abscess (6), and typhlitis (2). CT was complementary to barium studies, demonstrating wall thickening, pericolonic inflammatory change, masses, fascial thickening, and fistulae. Twenty patients had malignancy: primary carcinoma (9), metastases (7), and lymphoma (4). In all patients with carcinoma a mass was identified. Pericolonic stranding represented tumor extension in 5/6 patients. Metastases were identified as extrinsic ileocecal masses in all 7 patients. Liver, mesenteric and omental metastases were present in 8/20 patients. In patients with lymphoma there was wall thickening and two had additional pericecal lymphadenopathy. In 2 patients with hypoalbuminemia, findings included: wall thickening, mesenteric, and subcutaneous edema.