Evaluation of abdominal fistulas with computed body tomography (CT)

Twenty-nine patients with 32 abdominal fistulas were evaluated by sinograms and CT. Sinograms were superior to CT in displaying the fistulous tract and its communications to specific organ systems. Ct added information affecting treatment plan or surgical approach by defining extent, nature and location of underlying disease, by eliminating overlap opacified fistulas, cavities, bowel loops and surface contaminations and by detecting additional undrained abscesses or recurrent tumor masses. While sinograms remain the initial procedure in the evaluation of abdomina fistulas, CT offers a useful secondary modality in selected instances.