[CT diagnosis of acute mesenteric vein thrombosis with intestinal infarction]

Imaging methods provide an important diagnostic basis to clarify mesenteric ischemia. Angiography is the definitive method of investigation in such cases. Other noninvasive methods such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging must still prove their importance. We describe three cases of unspecific abdominal pain where the CT shows a mesenteric venous thrombosis with an infarcted bowel. The venous infarcted bowel is clearly demonstrated by CT when other signs for MTV such as ascites, bowel wall thickening, bowel dilatation, and pneumatosis intestinalis are present. CT seems to be a good procedure in order to identify unspecific abdominal pain as being caused by a vascular insufficiency.