Trichobezoar masquerading as massive splenomegaly: Rapunzel's syndrome revisited

Trichobezoars are usually formed due to ingestion of hair or hair-like fibres and present with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. We report a case of Rapunzel''s syndrome associated with trichotillomania in a 16-year-old girl who presented to our Haematology unit with complaints of fatigue, abdominal distention, and early satiety. Initial evaluation demonstrated anaemia, thrombocytosis, and a left hypochondrial mass suggestive of splenomegaly. However, ultrasound of the abdomen showed no hepatosplenomegaly and blood investigations were not suggestive of haematological malignancy. Not long after, the patient presented to the emergency department with suspected acute abdomen. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed intraluminal gastric and jejunal masses causing small bowel obstruction. Emergency laparotomy confirmed gastric and jejunal trichobezoars, and subsequent psychiatric evaluation confirmed trichotillomania. Clinicians should consider trichobezoar in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and a non-tender ‘spleen-like’ abdominal mass.     

Desmoid tumor and Gardner syndrome]

A desmoid tumor was found in a patient with Gardner's syndrome. The tumor was visualized by CT before and after contrast injection, by radiographic examination of the small bowel, and by sonography. CT demonstrated a heterogeneous mass in the left lower abdomen with attenuation values ranging from 23 to 72 HU on native scans, enhancing to 123 up to 172 HU after injection of contrast medium. This examination also demonstrated the extent of the tumor and its exact dimensions. The radiographic examination of the small bowel completed the diagnosis and showed no involvement of the small bowel. This diagnosis was confirmed by laparotomy.     

Primary ileal volvulus in neonates: radiologic findings in two cases

Two cases of primary small bowel volvulus in neonates are presented. On abdominal plain radiographs pseudotumor sign was seen in both cases. CT showed intensely distended fluid-filled small bowel loops on the right side of the abdomen and diffuse distention of the proximal small bowel loops with air-fluid levels. US also showed distended fluid-filled loops containing echogenic foci without peristalsis. We consider that CT and US can play important roles in the diagnosis of small bowel volvulus in neonates.     

MRT of the abdomen in combination with enteroclysis in Crohn disease with oral and intravenous Gd-DTPA

Summary In spite of the improved MR-diagnosis of the abdomen, MRI is not used as a routine method for the diagnosis of inflammatory small bowel disease. The aim of this study was – after optimazation of the bowel opacification – the correlation of the findings obtained with enteroclysis and MRI in patients with known Crohns' disease. 60 patients beween 17 and 72 years of age were investigated. First, an enteroclysis was performed in typical manner. The applicated methylcellulosis was blended with positive oral MR contrast media (Magnevist oral, Schering). After enteroclysis, MRI of the abdomen was performed using T1- and T2-weighted breathhold sequences (Flash 2D pre- and postcontrast and TSE) in axial and coronal planes. The lenght of the affected bowel and the stenosis seen with enteroclysis correlated well with the visible thickening of the small bowel wall and the stenosis seen in MRI. Using MRI, additional findings could be obtained in 28 patients, such as fistulas, abscesses or a hydronephrosis, or a better assessment of the stenosis was possible with MRI, because of the avoidance of overshadowing of the affected bowel loop with MRI. A brilliant MR-tomographic imaging of the small bowel is possible under the condition, that the small bowel contrast is optimal. The main prerequisite is a large filling volume of the small bowel to reach a homogeneous contrast and a good distension of the small bowel lumen.      

A predominant pelvic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) mass observed on Tc-99m red blood cell gastrointestinal bleeding scintigraphy

A 51-year-old woman presented with recurrent bleeding per rectum. Her earlier endoscopies were negative. Tc-99m RBC GI bleeding scintigraphy was performed. It demonstrated an apparent hypervascular pelvic mass, and active small bowel bleeding. Based on scintigraphic finding of a predominant pelvic mass indicating tumor, CT of the abdomen and pelvis was performed for further gastrointestinal bleeding localization work up instead of an invasive angiography or endoscopy, which detected a small bowel tumor in the pelvis. A small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumor was resected subsequently.     

Value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gallstone ileus

Two patients are presented, both of whom were admitted to hospital because of abdominal pains. In both patients, ultrasonography showed gallstones in the lower abdomen and in the small bowel loops were found to be dilated. In both cases it was possible to diagnose the gallstone ileus by ultrasonography and to mark the abdomen as a guide to the surgeon.     

Use of novel photon – counting detector CT for diagnosis of bowel infarction

A 75 year old male with a history of thoraco-abdominal surgery presented with acute onset epigastric pain. CT of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast performed on a novel photon-counting detector CT demonstrated dilated loops of small bowel herniating into the thoracic cavity through a defect in the left hemidiaphragm. On conventional CT reconstructions, the bowel wall demonstrated a thin rim of hyper-density which could have been interpreted as normal mucosal enhancement in viable bowel. However, spectral-imaging data including the iodine map revealed a complete lack of enhancement within the herniated loops of bowel compatible with infarction. With the added diagnostic information, the patient was taken rapidly to surgery for small bowel resection, with good outcome.     

Trichobezoar in a patient with sickle cell anemia: A pain crisis is not always to blame

Trichobezoar, a ball of hair in the stomach, is an under-diagnosed problem that should be considered in patients with an upper abdominal pain and mass, weight loss, and bowel obstruction especially in young girls with underlying psychiatric disorder or mental retardation. Patients with sickle cell disease are susceptible to experiencing pica including, in rare occasions, trichophagia that could lead to formation of a trichobezoar, resulting in serious abdominal complications which are likely to be confused with ordinary vaso-occlusive pain crises. Here we present the rare case of gastric trichobezoar in a 9 year old girl with sickle cell anemia.     

Perforation of the mesenteric small bowel: etiologies and CT findings

The purpose of this article is to illustrate and discuss the various etiologies of perforation of the mesenteric small bowel and associated findings on abdominal CT. Perforation of the mesenteric small bowel is an uncommon cause of an acute abdomen and can be due to various etiologies. In underdeveloped countries, infection is probably the most common cause, while in industrialized nations, perforation may be due to Crohn disease, diverticulitis, foreign body, trauma, tumor, mechanical obstruction, primary ischemic event, or iatrogenic causes. CT is usually the initial imaging examination in patients with an acute abdomen and is sensitive in diagnosing small bowel perforation. CT findings in the setting of small bowel perforation are often subtle, but when present, may help the radiologist determine a specific cause of perforation. The aims of this pictorial essay are to review the various causes of mesenteric small bowel perforation and to discuss and illustrate the CT findings that can help arrive at the diagnosis.     

Segmental dilatation of the small bowel: report of three cases and literature review

Segmental dilatation of the small bowel is a rare congenital abnormality that occurs mainly in children and produces significant nonspecific symptoms. The authors reviewed 33 cases reported in the literature and present three new cases in which the lesion was demonstrated on radiographs obtained before laparotomy. These cases showed the spectrum of symptoms and characteristic radiologic features of this condition in both plain abdominal radiographs and barium studies. Plain radiographs of the abdomen may show an isolated loop of bowel containing an air-fluid level. The characteristic finding in barium studies of the small bowel is a localized dilatation of the small bowel lumen with afferent and efferent loops. In the absence of a complication or coexistent cause of obstruction, the transit time of contrast medium through the small bowel is not delayed. The radiologic examination is useful in diagnosis, and the condition is cured with surgery.     

Gallstone ileus: An unusual cause of intestinal obstruction

Gallstone ileus is an infrequent cause of intestinal obstruction. It is typically the result of cholecystoduodenal fistula, computed tomography scan is the best modality for the diagnosis. Surgical removal of the gallstone is the pillar of treatment to relieve intestinal obstruction. We report the case of a 77-year-old male with features of a small bowel obstruction. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed pneumobilia, a cholecystoduodenal fistula, and small bowel obstruction features suspicious for gallstone ileus. The patient had a laparotomy and removal of two gallstones via an enterotomy without postoperative complications.     

Handlebar hernia: a case report

A 36-year-old man fell from his bicycle and struck his lower abdomen on the end of the handlebar. Computed tomography (CT) showed a small bowel loop protruding into the subcutaneous fat layer of the abdominal wall. We present this case of handlebar hernia, a rare type of traumatic abdominal wall hernia, and the usefulness of CT in diagnosing such injuries.     

Imaging characteristics of heterotopic mesenteric ossification on FDG PET and Tc-99m bone SPECT

A CT scan of a 69-year-old male patient, performed for staging of suspected lung carcinoma, incidentally showed an irregular lesion of 10 cm in the upper abdomen. Further investigation using FDG-PET showed only moderately increased glucose metabolism, whereas Tc-99m MDP SPECT revealed intense osteoblastic activity inside the lesion. A CT-guided biopsy was performed and histologic analysis established the diagnosis of heterotopic mesenteric ossification. This pathology is rare and mostly diagnosed when it is complicated by small bowel obstruction.     

Ultrasonic detection of gallstone ileus

A woman of 60 years of age with acute abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation and radiological signs of small bowel obstruction was subjected to sonographic examination. Careful examination of the entire abdomen demonstrated a hyperechoic object within the distended terminal ileum with an intensive acoustic shadow. The gallbladder was not visible. This strongly suggested gallstone ileus, especially since the patient had a history of gallbladder disease. She was treated immediately by enterotomy and extraction of a noncalcified obstructing stone. The value of ultrasound in detecting gallstones causing small bowel obstruction is discussed.     

Small bowel disease

CT of the abdomen and pelvis has supplanted the use of fluoroscopic examinations in the case of suspected small bowel obstruction. CT allows localization of the obstruction and frequently suggests the etiology. This case explores various causes of small bowel obstruction as well as the signs on CT of ischemic versus nonischemic small bowel obstruction.     

Small intestine occlusion caused by the silent opening of liver hydatid cysts into the peritoneum. Apropos of an uncommon case

The authors report one exceptional case of organic small bowel occlusion. The etiological diagnosis was performed by ultrasonographic examination and showed two hydatid cysts of the liver opened into the peritoneum and a peritoneal fluid collection corresponding to the hydatid fluid. The authors emphasize the absence of clinical symptoms during the opening of the hydatid cysts of the liver into the peritoneum and the usefulness of emergency ultrasonographic examination of the entire abdomen in cases of small bowel obstruction without any evident etiology.     

Multidetector row CT of the small bowel

Multidetector row CT (MDCT) has become an imaging technique of choice to study routinely the small bowel. Thin collimation and fast scanning allow coverage of the entire abdomen within a single suspended respiration phase allowing the use of multiple enhancement phases after intravenous contrast administration. MDCT of the small bowel can identify and stage most of the common diseases of the small bowel. MDCT is changing the paradigm for diagnosing small bowel disease by becoming the first diagnostic line for almost all small bowel diseases. MDCT has the needed sensitivity and specificity, the availability, and the safety for a front-line diagnostic method.     

Ecografía intestinal y abdomen agudo: más allá de la apendicitis aguda

Acute abdomen is a common reason for consultation in the emergency department. A broad spectrum of entities, including diverse diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, can cause acute abdomen. Although computed tomography is the technique most widely used to evaluate acute abdomen in the emergency department, abdominal ultrasound is often performed first and allows bowel disease to be suspected. This article describes the ultrasound features of diverse bowel diseases that can cause acute abdomen, such as acute diverticulitis, bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation, bowel ischemia, intraabdominal fat necrosis, and miscellaneous processes such as endometriosis, foreign bodies, or vasculitis. Radiologists must be familiar with the different features of abnormal bowel that can be detected incidentally in patients without clinical suspicion of bowel disease. This article focuses on ultrasonographic signs of bowel disease; other articles in this series cover the ultrasonographic signs of acute appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and infectious diseases.     

Small bowel diverticulitis: an imaging review of an uncommon entity

In this review, we discuss the clinical and radiologic findings of small bowel diverticulosis, which is infrequently encountered during practice and far less common than colonic diverticulosis. Small bowel diverticulosis can present with a range of emergent symptomatic complications including diverticulitis, perforation, or hemorrhage. Here, we focus on the clinical features, pathogenesis, radiologic findings, and treatment of small bowel diverticulitis. Although not routinely considered in the differential diagnosis of an acute abdomen, prospective radiologic diagnosis of small bowel diverticulitis is important and can lead to conservative treatment thus preventing unnecessary exploratory laparotomy.     

Case report: volvulus of a mesenteric cyst--an unusual complication diagnosed by CT.

A 10-year-old girl presented with colicky abdominal pain and a vague left sided mass on physical examination. Plain radiographs of the abdomen were unremarkable but ultrasound examination demonstrated a large right sided unilocular cystic abdominal mass. Computed tomographic features were diagnostic of volvulus of the proximal small bowel with associated mesenteric cyst. Surgery confirmed CT findings and no mid gut malrotation was noted at operation.