CT appearance of direct leukemic invasion of bowel

Although leukemic invasion of bowel is frequently seen on pathologic examination, it has rarely been described in the imaging literature. Previous radiographic reports have relied mostly on non-cross-sectional imaging techniques such as barium enema and have detected abnormalities only in the most advanced stages of disease when prognosis is uniformly poor. We describe a case of direct leukemic invasion seen on computed tomography which may offer the advantage of earlier detection and more favorable prognosis.