Small-bowel disease: categorization by CT examination

Fifty patients with no small-bowel disease were evaluated by CT to determine the normal appearance of the small bowel and mesentery. Subsequently, the CT findings in 95 patients with proven small-bowel disease were analyzed to determine which CT observations correlated with neoplastic, inflammatory, or edema-producing processes. Thirty-three (83%) of 40 patients with wall thickening or mesenteric masses greater than 1.5 cm had a neoplastic process. Twenty-eight (82%) of 34 patients with normal mesenteric fat attenuation, wall thickening less than 1.5 cm, or mesenteric masses less than 1.5 cm had inflammatory disease. Fourteen (67%) of 21 patients with no mesenteric mass, increased mesenteric fat attenuation, and wall thickening less than 1.5 cm had noninflammatory edema. Overall, CT assigned 75 (79%) of 95 patients into appropriate categories; use of ancillary CT findings led to correct categorization in 83 (87%). CT is helpful in correctly assigning a disease category to patients with small-bowel wall thickening.     

CT appearance of diffuse mesenteric edema

The extent of pathologic processes involving the mesentery is frequently difficult to assess by clinical examination and standard radiography. Contrast studies of the gastrointestinal tract only identify the effect of these processes on adjacent opacified bowel loops and frequently underestimate the extent of mesenteric pathology. Computed tomography has previously been used to characterize various mesenteric abnormalities, most often secondary to malignant or inflammatory disease. We report the characteristic CT appearance of diffuse mesenteric edema in 14 patients. Eleven patients had documented hypoalbuminemia, two patients superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, and one patient cirrhosis. The CT findings that allowed confident diagnosis of this entity include increase in density of the mesenteric fat, poor definition of segmental mesenteric vessels, relative sparing of the retroperitoneal fat, and association with subcutaneous edema.     

钝性腹部空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤的 CT 诊断

目的：通过对照分析腹部钝性空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤患者术中发现及术前CT征象,寻找判断空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤的特征性CT表现,以助于提高诊断率。方法回顾性分析2011～2013年我院100例钝性腹部创伤患者,其中男性82例,女性18例;年龄11个月～77岁,平均37岁。将其分为A、B两组,A组为经手术证实的有钝性肠道及肠系膜损伤患者（50例）,B组为经手术证实的只有钝性实质性脏器损伤而没有空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤患者（50例）,分析两组中与空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤相关的CT征象,采用单因素分析方法,进一步得出有助于判断是否有空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤的CT征象。结果通过分析发现具有统计学意义的征象有：腹腔或腹膜后积气（P＜0.01,敏感度50％,特异度98％）,肠管壁增厚（P＜0.01,敏感度40％,特异度98％）,系膜增厚（P＜0.01,敏感度42％,特异度88％）,系膜密度增高（P＜0.05,敏感度16％,特异度98％）,腹腔脂肪间隙密度增高模糊（P＜0.05,敏感度18％,特异度96％）,腹膜增厚（P＜0.05,敏感度26％,特异度90％）。结论通过分析发现腹腔或腹膜后积气、肠管壁增厚、系膜增厚、系膜密度增高、腹腔脂肪间隙密度增高模糊等征象有助于判断空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤。     

Usefulness of MR Imaging for Diseases of the Small Intestine: Comparison with CT

Objective

To evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine, emphasizing a comparison with CT.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-four patients who underwent both CT and MR imaging using FLASH 2D and HASTE sequences were analyzed. All patients had various small bowel diseases with variable association of peritoneal lesions. We compared the detectabilities of CT and MR imaging using different MR pulse sequences. The capability for analyzing the characteristics of small intestinal disease was also compared.

Results

MR imaging was nearly equal to CT for detecting intraluminal or peritoneal masses, lesions in the bowel and mesentery, and small bowel obstruction, but was definitely inferior for detecting omental lesions. The most successful MR imaging sequence was HASTE for demonstrating bowel wall thickening, coronal FLASH 2D for mesenteric lesions, and axial FLASH 2D for omental lesions. MR imaging yielded greater information than CT in six of 12 inflammatory bowel diseases, while it was equal to CT in six of seven neoplasms and inferior in five of seven mesenteric ischemia. In determining the primary causes of 15 intestinal obstructions, MR imaging was correct in 11 (73%) and CT in nine (60%) patients.

Conclusion

MR imaging can serve as an alternative diagnostic tool for patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease, small intestinal neoplasm or obstruction.     

Computed tomography of the ileocecal region

The CT scans in 25 patients without ileocecal pathology and 52 patients with ileocecal abnormalities were retrospectively reviewed. The ileocecal region was identified in 18/25 (72%) of patients without pathology. Thirty of 52 patients with ileocecal pathology had inflammatory disease: Crohn's (13), appendicitis (9), abscess (6), and typhlitis (2). CT was complementary to barium studies, demonstrating wall thickening, pericolonic inflammatory change, masses, fascial thickening, and fistulae. Twenty patients had malignancy: primary carcinoma (9), metastases (7), and lymphoma (4). In all patients with carcinoma a mass was identified. Pericolonic stranding represented tumor extension in 5/6 patients. Metastases were identified as extrinsic ileocecal masses in all 7 patients. Liver, mesenteric and omental metastases were present in 8/20 patients. In patients with lymphoma there was wall thickening and two had additional pericecal lymphadenopathy. In 2 patients with hypoalbuminemia, findings included: wall thickening, mesenteric, and subcutaneous edema.     

MSCT对克罗恩病活动性的判定

目的:探讨克罗恩病的CT表现特点。方法:回顾性分析经病理证实的32例克罗恩病的CT表现,均采用多层螺旋CT平扫+增强。结果:有26例表现为黏膜增厚和分层形成"靶征"和"双边征",肠壁厚度多在8～10mm;有5例同时有病变段肠管周围纤维脂肪成分增多及系膜血管增多、增粗。结论:多层螺旋CT不但能准确显示克罗恩病肠壁、肠系膜及周围结构的异常,增强CT还能区分活动性或非活动性病变,有助于临床采取合理而积极的治疗方案。     

Computed tomographic features of appendiceal serositis in pelvic inflammatory disease: comparison with pathological findings

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the computed tomographic (CT) features of the appendiceal serositis in women with pelvic inflammatory disease and to compare these with the pathological findings. METHODS: Appendiceal serositis was pathologically evaluated in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease who underwent surgery within 3 days of computed tomography. On retrospective review of CT findings, each appendix was evaluated for the following characteristics: location relative to the cecum, maximal diameter, morphology of wall thickening, contrast enhancement, and presence of appendicolith and cecal wall thickening. The presence of fatty infiltration of the periappendiceal fat, mesentery, and omentum was evaluated. The presence of pelvic abscess or ascites, lymph nodes, and paralytic ileus was noted. RESULTS: On pathological review, 10 patients were shown to have appendiceal serositis: mild serositis in 3 patients, moderate in 4, and severe in 3. The maximal appendiceal diameter ranged from 5.4 to 8.9 mm (mean diameter, 7.1 +/- 0.9 mm). Diffuse wall thickening with collapsed lumen was detected in 6 patients. Focal wall thickening with intraluminal gas bubbles or an air-fluid level was detected in 4 cases. Peripheral rim enhancement of the appendix was detected in 3 patients with focal wall-thickened appendix. There was no association between the feature of appendiceal wall thickening and the pathological severity of serositis. Mesenteric fatty infiltration was detected in 5 patients and omental fatty infiltration in 3 patients. Fatty infiltration of the mesentery and omentum was more commonly presented in patients with severe serositis. Pelvic abscesses, including pyosalpinx, were detected in 7 patients; a small amount of free fluid was seen in 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The CT findings of appendiceal serositis are diffuse or focal wall thickening without severe distension, common association with mesenteric fatty infiltration, and pelvic abscesses.     

Computed tomography in the evaluation of Crohn disease

The abdominal and pelvic computed tomographic examinations in 28 patients with Crohn disease were analyzed and correlated with conventional barium studies, sinograms, and surgical findings. Mucosal abnormalities such as aphthous lesions, pseudopolyps, and ulcerations were only imaged by conventional techniques. Computed tomography proved superior in demonstrating the mural, serosal, and mesenteric abnormalities such as bowel wall thickening (82%), fibrofatty proliferation of mesenteric fat (39%), mesenteric abscess (25%), inflammatory reaction of the mesentery (14%), and mesenteric lymphadenopathy (18%). Computed tomography was most useful clinically in defining the nature of mass effects, separation, or displacement of small bowel segments seen on small bowel series. Although conventional barium studies remain the initial diagnostic procedure in evaluating Crohn disease, computed tomography can be a useful adjunct in resolving difficult clinical and radiologic diagnostic problems.     

Computed tomography of bowel infarction

Bowel infarction is a potentially lethal disorder that is notoriously difficult to diagnose clinically and radiographically. Computed tomography is often used in the early radiographic evaluation of patients with severe abdominal pain of unknown etiology. This study defines the CT findings in patients with bowel infarction. The findings in 22 patients with mesenteric infarction were reviewed. Seven were due to mesenteric arterial occlusion, six due to mesenteric venous occlusion, and nine were nonocclusive. The CT abnormalities were diffuse or focal bowel wall thickening (19 patients), bowel dilatation without mural thickening (three patients), intramural low attenuation zones of edema (eight patients), intramural gas (11 patients), mesenteric gas (five patients), portal or mesenteric venous gas (one patient), mesenteric vascular occlusion (eight patients), and peritoneal gas or fluid (12 patients). The diagnosis of bowel infarction must be considered when performing CT in patients with abdominal pain of unknown etiology.     

The role of spiral computed tomography in sigmoid diverticulitis and the diagnostic-therapeutic implications

PURPOSE: Colonic diverticula are saccules made of colonic mucosa and submucosa that herniate from the colonic lumen through the muscular layer of the wall where straight vessels penetrate. Diverticula are localized in the sigmoid colon in 95% of cases. Bacteria pooling in the lumen may cause lumen erosion and eventually perforation. CT is a useful technique in this condition because it can demonstrate intra- and/or extramural inflammation. Aim of this retrospective study was to assess the capabilities of contrast-enhanced helical Computed Tomography (CT) in sigmoid diverticulitis, especially relative to selection of the appropriate treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the findings of 41 patients referred to our emergency department for diverticulitis. CT scans were performed 65 seconds after i.v. injection of nonionic contrast material (3 mL/s, 120 mL in all) administered by a CT-power injector. The following 7 CT findings were considered at least suggestive of acute diverticulitis: focal wall thickening, intramural abscess, inflammatory changes in the sigmoid mesentery root, pericolic fat inflammation or pericolic abscess formation, fistula, peritonitis. CT results were compared with surgical and physical findings. RESULTS: Based on CT findings, diverticulitis was classified as mild (25 patients) or severe (15 patients). In mild diverticulitis we found: focal sigmoid wall thickening (6 patients), intramural abscess (3 patients), sigmoid mesentery root thickening (5 patients), edema fluid (8 patients) and phlegmon (3 patients). In severe diverticulitis we found: sigmoid mesentery abscess (6 patients), fistula (5 patients) and peritonitis (4 patients). CT findings were questionable in 1 case and thus we could not exclude a perforated carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced helical CT is the imaging modality of choice in assessing mild or severe acute diverticulitis because it provides useful information for appropriate treatment planning in the emergency setting. This technique is most useful in questionable cases and in patients with suspected severe diverticulitis where a choice must be made between different treatment options.     

结核性与肿瘤性腹腔积液的CT鉴别（附43例分析）

目的：探讨CT鉴别结核性与肿瘤性腹腔积液的价值。方法收集2008年8月～2013年7月有完整临床及CT资料的腹腔积液患者43例,观察并记录的CT征象包括：①壁腹膜增厚的形态、分布范围及强化特征;②腹水分布部位及多少;③大网膜及肠系膜增厚;④腹腔淋巴结增大及强化方式;⑤其他脏器伴随征象。结果26例结核性腹腔积液中,CT正确诊断23例,误诊3例（误诊率为11．5％）;肿瘤性腹腔积液17例,CT 正确诊断15例,误诊2例（误诊率为11.8％）。各种CT征象中,腹膜增厚形态、腹腔积液量、网膜及肠系膜增厚形态、腹腔淋巴结强化形式,差异有统计学差别（ P＜0．05）,而腹腔淋巴结钙化只出现在结核性腹腔积液中。结论正确认识结核性与肿瘤性腹腔积液的各种CT征象,对两种病变的诊断和鉴别诊断有重要价值。     

渗出型结核性腹膜炎的CT诊断

目的探讨渗出型结核性腹膜炎的CT改变特点。资料与方法回顾性分析13例取得临床确诊资料的渗出型结核性腹膜炎患者的CT征象。结果腹腔积液,腹膜增厚伴表面颗粒结节,肠系膜、大网膜网线状阴影及颗粒结节等征象常见。腹腔及腹膜后淋巴结肿大,肠壁肿胀也是常见CT征象。结论腹部CT平扫加增强扫描对发现和诊断渗出型结核性腹膜炎具有重要的临床价值。     

结核性腹膜炎的CT表现

目的:探讨结核性腹膜炎的CT表现特点。方法:回顾性分析12例经手术病理证实或抗痨治疗效果显著而确诊的结核性腹膜炎的CT征象。结果:渗出型和粘连型分别以腹水、腹膜增厚为主要表现,干酪型则主要表现为分房状肿块,增强扫描时房壁环形强化,三种类型均可伴有不同程度的网膜、肠系膜、肠壁的增厚混浊和腹水。结论:腹部CT平扫加增强扫描有助于结核性腹膜炎的诊断。     

绞窄性肠梗阻肠系膜及其血管改变的CT研究

目的对经CT检查、有肠系膜及其血管（MRV）改变的30例绞窄性肠梗阻（SO）进行分析，探讨CT诊断的临床价值。方法30例SO，均行CT平扫，其中20例行增强扫描，均显示有不同形式的MRV改变。26例经手术、4例经临床证实，包括粘连性肠梗阻9例，肠扭转8例，肠套叠6例，肠系膜血管闭塞性肠梗阻4例，内疝3例。结果所有病例经CT检查可发现11种CT征象，并可分作：（1）直接征象：包括肠系膜血管闭塞2例，肠系膜水肿及其血管增粗并形态异常19例；（2）间接征象：包括肠壁水肿增厚24例，CT强化肠壁异常6例，肠腔大量积液13例，肠袢特殊形态10例，肠壁、肠系膜出血各1例；（3）并发症征象：包括肠壁间积气3例，肠系膜门脉积气1例，肠系膜积气1例，腹水和气腹共11例。结论急腹症CT检查如能显示MRV改变，结合其他CT征象和临床，可以对SO术前作出诊断。同时也能观察到传统x线不能显示的并发症。     

结核性与恶性腹膜弥漫性病变的^18F-FDG PET/CT影像特征分析

目的 分析结核性与恶性腹膜弥漫性病变的^18F-FDG PET/CT表现,探讨PET/CT的诊断及鉴别诊断价值.方法 回顾性对比分析经病理和（或）临床证实的10例结核性腹膜炎、29例恶性腹膜病变（包括13例原发性腹膜浆液性乳头状腺癌、16例腹膜转移癌）的^18F-FDG PET/CT表现.观察和记录指标：（1）壁腹膜、大网膜、肠系膜的受累情况;（2）腹腔积液情况;（3）淋巴结改变;（4）其他脏器伴随征象.对结核组与恶性组的受累腹膜^18F-FDG代谢程度、腹腔积液密度及^18F-FDG浓聚程度差异行两样本t检验.结果 结核性腹膜炎多为壁腹膜弥漫均匀增厚伴大网膜及肠系膜“污迹样”改变,^18F-FDG分布较均匀;恶性腹膜病变多为壁腹膜、大网膜及肠系膜明显不规则增厚,呈多发结节状及饼状改变,^18F-FDG分布不均匀.两组受累腹膜^18F-FDG代谢均增高,结核性腹膜炎SUVmax为12.74±9.75,恶性腹膜病变SUVmax为12.45±7.40,两者之间的差异无统计学意义（t=0.099,P＞0.05）.恶性腹膜病变患者腹腔积液密度低于结核性腹膜炎患者,恶性腹膜病变患者的CT值为（11.34±3.55）HU、结核性腹膜炎患者的CT值为（14.4±2.37）HU,两者之间的差异有统计学意义（t=2.53,P＜0.05）;腹腔积液^18F-FDG浓聚程度高于结核性腹膜炎患者,恶性腹膜病变患者SUVmax为2.10±0.65、结核性腹膜炎患者SUVmax为1.61±0.35,两者之间的差异有统计学意义（t=-2.278,P＜0.05）;恶性腹膜病变患者T/NT为0.77±0.18、结核性腹膜炎患者T/NT为0.58±0.12,两者之间的差异有统计学意义（t=-3.084,P＜0.05）.结论 ^18F-FDG PET/CT显像可同时显示腹膜病变的形态学和功能代谢改变,并全面显示其他脏器的伴随征象,综合分析其特征,有助于提高病变的诊断准确率.     

CT findings in acute peritonitis: a pattern-based approach

Many inflammatory and infectious entities may acutely affect the peritoneum causing a thickening of its layers. Unfortunately, several acute peritoneal diseases can have overlapping features, both clinically and at imaging. Therefore, the awareness of the clinical context, although useful, may be sometimes insufficient to identify the underlying cause. This article provides a specific computed tomography-based approach including morphologic characteristics of peritoneal thickening (e.g., smooth, irregular, or nodular) and ancillary findings to narrow the differential diagnosis of acute peritonitis.Computed tomography (CT) became an important tool in the detection and characterization of acute abdominal involvement with the development of multidetector CT (MDCT) scanners. This technology makes the acquisition of isotropic data possible and affords the capability of performing high-resolution multiplanar reconstructions (1). Thus, CT imaging is often the initial modality in acute abdomen in a significant proportion of patients, and radiologists should have a high level of suspicion in detection and interpretation of peritoneal abnormalities.As a wide variety of acute peritoneal diseases may present with similar clinical features, the clinicians ask the interpreting radiologist to provide a concise and focused differential diagnosis. However, several specific entities may manifest with overlapping CT findings.This article provides an overview of MDCT appearances of acute peritoneal diseases based on the peritoneal thickening pattern and a detailed analysis of the associated findings.     

Computed tomography of mesenteric disease

Inflammation, edema, and neoplasms may directly involve the mesentery. Here, the authors illustrate the varied CT appearances of such mesenteric abnormalities.     

Small bowel disease in children: diagnosis with CT

The computed tomographic (CT) scans of 22 children with small bowel disease and those of 110 children with no small bowel disease were analyzed by two observers who were blinded with respect to clinical history and final diagnoses in order to determine which CT findings reliably indicated neoplastic, inflammatory, or noninflammatory processes. Bowel-wall thickening was the most reliable sign of disease. Five of six patients (83%) with bowel-wall thickness greater than 1 cm had neoplastic disease. Nine of ten patients (90%) with bowel-wall thickness between 3 mm and 1 cm had inflammatory disease, while four of six patients (66%) with wall thickness less than 1 cm and increased attenuation of mesenteric fat or an increase in the number of mesenteric vessels had noninflammatory edema. The presence of mesenteric masses was not a helpful sign for differentiating various disease processes. The results of this retrospective study suggest that the identification and classification of small bowel disease in children is possible from the objective analysis of CT findings.     

失代偿期肝硬化CT显示腹膜和腹膜后组织水肿的临床意义

目的　探讨失代偿期肝硬化腹膜和腹膜后水肿CT表现特点及临床意义。方法　 44例经临床和实验室检查证实为失代偿期肝硬化 (DCC)。根据腹膜和腹膜后水肿的范围 ,分为轻、中、重3级 ,并观察腹水及其量和静脉曲张的情况。将上述指标与血清白蛋白 (ALB)和透明质酸 (HA)水平进行相关分析。结果　腹膜和腹膜后水肿的程度与血清ALB降低的程度 (rs=0 70 88,P <0 0 0 1)、血清HA升高的程度 (rs=0 5 2 94,P <0 0 1)和腹水量 (rs=0 5 44 0 ,P <0 0 0 5 )有明显的相关性。而与静脉曲张形成无相关性 (rs=0 1335 ,P >0 .0 5 )。结论　DCC病人CT显示腹膜和腹膜后水肿 ,在一定程度上可反映肝硬化病变的程度。     

小儿结核性腹膜炎的多层螺旋CT表现

目的：探讨小儿结核性腹膜炎的多层螺旋CT影像特点及其诊断和鉴别诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析21例经临床确诊的小儿结核性腹膜炎的临床资料及影像资料。结果：CT表现为腹膜增厚或多发结节19例,大网膜结节状或不规则增厚19例,腹水16例,肠系膜脂肪密度增高19例,肠壁增厚13例,盆腔肿块5例,腹部淋巴结增大14例,胸部发现病灶16例。结论：小儿结核性腹膜炎的CT表现具有一定特征性,结合临床资料,有助于诊断和鉴别诊断。