Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: clinical and CT findings

We present two patients with biopsy proven primary intestinal lymphangiectasia in whom CT demonstrated diffuse nodular thickening of small bowel without adenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly. One patient had extensive ascites. Although the CT findings are not specific to lymphangiectasia, they may allow one to suggest the diagnosis in the patient with protein losing enteropathy and help distinguish it from inflammatory bowel disease, lymphoma, celiac disease, or Whipple disease.