CT in the early detection of strangulation in intestinal obstruction

The role of CT in evaluating the gastrointestinal tract has increased recently because CT demonstrates pathological conditions involving the bowels, mesenteric vessels, and peritoneal cavity well. In patients who have an intestinal obstruction, the observation of both bowel loop configuration and mesenteric vessels on CT is the key to identifying the site and cause of obstruction and determining the absence or presence of intestinal strangulation. Although many clinical and radiological findings reported in the literature are not seen in the early stages of intestinal strangulation, CT might assist in its early detection. This article reviews the clinical, pathophysiological, and radiological aspects of strangulating obstruction with emphasis on the role of CT in its early diagnosis.