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Retroperitoneal fibrosis presenting as colonic dysfunction: CT diagnosis.
D H Hulnick1, G P Chatson, A J Megibow
1Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Retroperitoneal fibrosis can cause colon entrapment, leading to pelvic pain and altered bowel habits. Computed tomography is crucial for diagnosing this rare condition affecting the rectosigmoid junction.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Urology
Background:
- Pelvic pain and altered bowel habits are common symptoms with diverse etiologies.
- Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare condition characterized by inflammatory tissue in the retroperitoneum.
Observation:
- A patient presented with pelvic pain and changed bowel habits.
- Initial barium enema and sigmoidoscopy showed nonspecific colonic narrowing at the rectosigmoid junction with normal mucosa.
Findings:
- Computed tomography (CT) revealed retroperitoneal fibrosis with pelvic extension entrapping the colon.
- This imaging finding identified the etiology of the patient's symptoms.
Implications:
- CT is vital for diagnosing unusual presentations of retroperitoneal fibrosis.
- Early diagnosis and management of colonic entrapment due to RPF can prevent complications.