ABSTRACT
Although small bowel obstruction is a common occurrence, it is essential that this clinical condition be treated properly, that the site, level, and cause of obstruction be determined accurately, and that a tentative prognosis be formulated prior to surgery. The diagnosis of small bowel obstruction is based on a comprehensive approach that includes clinical background, patient history, and results of physical examination and laboratory tests. A variety of radiologic procedures are available to aid in the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction. Recent studies have demonstrated the superiority of CT in revealing the site, level, and cause of obstruction and in demonstrating threatening signs of bowel inviability. CT has proved useful in characterizing small bowel obstruction from extrinsic causes (adhesions, closed loop, strangulation, hernia, extrinsic masses), intrinsic causes (adenocarcinoma, Crohn disease, tuberculosis, radiation enteropathy, intramural hemorrhage, intussusception), intraluminal causes (eg, bezoars), or intestinal malrotation. Conventional radiography was the modality of choice for many years and should remain the initial imaging method in patients with suspected small bowel obstruction. However, the unique capabilities of CT in this setting make this modality an important additional diagnostic tool when specific disease management issues must be addressed.
Subject(s)
Intestinal Obstruction/diagnostic imaging , Intestine, Small/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Intestinal Obstruction/etiologyABSTRACT
Crohn's disease is characterized by transmural inflammation and chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal complications of Crohn's disease are frequent and quite variable and their diagnosis is commonly performed with CT. The purpose of this article is to review the CT features of the abdominal complications of Crohn's disease, including ileocolitis, abscess, phlegmon, fistula, bowel obstruction, portal vein gas, colonic distention, as well as urinary, hepatobiliary and pancreatic complications.
Subject(s)
Crohn Disease/complications , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Abdominal Abscess/diagnostic imaging , Abdominal Abscess/etiology , Cellulitis/diagnostic imaging , Cellulitis/etiology , Colonic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Colonic Diseases/etiology , Crohn Disease/diagnostic imaging , Diagnosis, Differential , Dilatation, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging , Dilatation, Pathologic/etiology , Gases , Humans , Intestinal Fistula/diagnostic imaging , Intestinal Fistula/etiology , Intestinal Obstruction/diagnostic imaging , Intestinal Obstruction/etiology , Portal VeinABSTRACT
A case of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome caused by focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver is presented with atypical magnetic resonance findings due to intratumoral hemosiderin deposition. The high sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging for iron served to identify the site of hemolysis in this patient with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.