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.     

CT of blunt trauma bowel and mesenteric injury: typical findings and pitfalls in diagnosis.

Detection of bowel and mesenteric injury can be challenging in patients after blunt abdominal trauma. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to decrease patient morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography (CT) has become the primary modality for the imaging of these patients. Signs of bowel perforation such as free air and contrast material are virtually pathognomonic. Bowel-wall thickening, free fluid, and mesenteric infiltration may be seen with this type of injury and partial thickness injuries. The authors present and discuss the range of CT findings seen with bowel and mesenteric injuries. Examples of observation and interpretation errors are also provided to highlight pitfalls encountered in the evaluation of abdominopelvic CT scans in patients after blunt trauma.     

Preoperative evaluation of local invasion and metastatic lymph nodes of colorectal cancer and mesenteric vascular variations using multidetector-row computed tomography before laparoscopic surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate local invasion and lymph nodes metastasis of colorectal cancer and mesenteric vascular variations using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) before laparoscopic colorectal surgery. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with colorectal cancer underwent MDCT. The evaluation items were as follows: (1) local invasion; (2) detected lymph nodes evaluated by short-axis diameter, long-axis diameter, short/long axis diameter ratio, and computed tomography (CT) attenuation; and (3) visualization of mesenteric artery and vein by 3-dimensional-CT angiography. RESULTS: First, in the evaluation of local invasion, overall accuracy was 94.1%. Second, the point of 0.8 or greater in short/long-axis diameter ratio was best index for the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes. Using this index, the accuracy of the diagnosis per node was 80.5%. Third, 3-dimensional-CT angiography correctly demonstrated variations of the mesenteric artery and vein. CONCLUSIONS: The MDCT was effective for evaluation of local invasion and lymph nodes metastasis of colorectal cancer and mesenteric vascular variations before laparoscopic surgery.     

Abdominopelvic actinomycosis involving the gastrointestinal tract: CT features.

PURPOSE: To assess the computed tomographic (CT) features of abdominopelvic actinomycosis involving the gastrointestinal tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans were analyzed in 18 patients with pathologically proved abdominopelvic actinomycosis involving the gastrointestinal tract. Eight patients had a history of using intrauterine contraceptive devices. Bowel site, wall thickness, length, bowel involvement patterns, inflammatory infiltration, and features of peritoneal or pelvic mass, if present, were evaluated at CT. RESULTS: Of the gastrointestinal tract, the sigmoid colon was most commonly involved (50%). All patients showed concentric (n = 15) or eccentric (n = 3) bowel wall thickening, with a mean thickness of 1.2 cm and a mean length of 8.3 cm. The thickened bowel enhanced homogeneously in nine patients and heterogeneously in the other nine. Inflammatory infiltration was mostly diffuse and severe. In 17 patients, a peritoneal or pelvic mass (mean maximum diameter, 3.2 cm) was seen adjacent to the involved bowel and appeared to be heterogeneously enhanced in most cases; infiltration into the abdominal wall was seen in four patients. CONCLUSION: Actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis when CT scans show bowel wall thickening and regional pelvic or peritoneal mass with extensive infiltration, especially in patients with abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, or long-term use of intrauterine contraceptive devices.     

Blunt trauma to the gastrointestinal tract and mesentery: is there a role for helical CT in the decision-making process?

The CT diagnosis of bowel and mesenteric injuries is difficult and warrants optimal technique and skilled interpretation. We retrospectively reviewed 36 consecutive patients with blunt traumatic injuries to the bowel and mesentery at our regional level I trauma center during the past 3 years. Physical examination, laboratory, Computed tomographic (CT), and intraoperative findings were compared. Surgically proven bowel injuries (13 cases) occurred in the duodenum (three cases), ileum (two cases), jejunum (two cases), colon (three cases), and stomach (three cases). CT findings considered specific of bowel rupture were observed in 5/13 patients including: extraluminal oral contrast or luminal content extravasation (four cases) and discontinuity of hollow viscus wall (one case). In the remaining 8/13 CT findings considered suggestive of bowel injury consisted of: pneumoperitoneum (six), gas bubbles close to the injured hollow viscus (three), thickened (>4-5mm) bowel wall (five), bowel wall hematoma (three), intraperitoneal fluid of unknown source (three). Mesenteric injury (23 cases) were surgically observed at the level of the mesenteric vessels (17 cases), legament of Treitz (two cases), gastro-duodenal artery (one case), transverse (one case) and sigmoid mesocolon (one case). CT finding considered specific of mesenteric laceration was active extravasation of contrast material from the mesenteric vessels (10 cases). CT findings suggestive of mesenteric injury (13 cases) consisted of: mesenteric hematoma (five) and/or high attenuation fluid collections, within the mesenteric root (eight) and folds (four). Helical CT is sensitive in the identification of bowel and mesenteric injury after blunt trauma providing a wide spectrum of findings. However, CT cannot be used as the sole indicator in cases with isolated thichened bowel wall, mesenteric hematoma, bowel hematoma, pneumoperitoneum or gas bubbles. Persistent, active extravasation of intravenous constrast medium from the mesenteric vessels, in isolation or associated with further injuries, requires immediate exploration and repair; disruption of bowel wall and extravasation of oral contrast are definite signs of bowel rupture. Close clinical observation, monitoring, and surgical expertise are mandatory for appropriate management.     

Computerized tomography features of intestinal infarction: 56 surgically treated patients of which 5 with reversible mesenteric ischemia]

PURPOSE: Bowel infarction is a rare and typical condition of the elderly; despite improvements in diagnostic imaging and vascular surgery, bowel infarction remains a major cause of acute abdomen, with mortality rates ranging 70-80%. Diagnosis is often late because clinical signs, laboratory data and radiologic findings are aspecific. We investigated radiographic and particularly CT patterns of intestinal infarction in 56 patients submitted to surgery within 12 hours of admission. We also report the CT findings of 5 of these patients who had reversible mesenteric ischemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 56 cases of bowel infarction. The patients were 29 men and 27 women ranging in age 46-84 years (mean: 63). All the patients were submitted to plain radiography of the abdomen in different projections; emergency CT was carried out with i.v. contrast agent injection. We considered the following CT patterns: dilatation of intestinal loops > 2.5-3 mm, wall thickening > 3-4 mm, intraperitoneal effusion, stuffing of mesenteric vessels with diameter > 3 mm, air-fluid levels. RESULTS: Patients in the 7th decade of life were most frequently affected (38 cases), with an overall mortality rate of 59% (33 deaths). Plain radiography showed distention of bowel loops with air-fluid levels in 91% of cases. CT proved to be an accurate technique with higher sensitivity than radiography in detecting mesenteric edema and hemorrhage (68%), abdominal and pelvic effusion (88%), parietal pneumatosis (9%), wall thickening (29%), intraportal gas (7%), and thrombosis of superior mesenteric artery (3.5%). CT patterns in the 5 patients with reversible intestinal ischemia were wall thickening (80%), peritoneal effusion (80%), meteoric dilatatation (40%), a blurred appearance of mesenteric fat (40%). CONCLUSIONS: Angiography is a valuable imaging and treatment technique permitting the diagnosis of vascular occlusion and the intraarterial infusion of vasodilators, but it can be carried out in emergency in few centers only. This makes conventional radiology, and particularly CT, the only tool providing useful information for early diagnosis and treatment of bowel infarction. CT is more sensitive than radiography and does not exhibit the limitations of angiography--i.e., invasiveness, radiation exposure and complex organization. Therefore CT can presently be considered the method of choice in patients with suspected bowel infarction.     

Abdominal computed tomography in lupus mesenteric arteritis.

We report the abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed signs of an acute abdomen secondary to mesenteric arteritis. Initial CT scan demonstrated ascites and wall thickening of the duodenum and jejunum. After treatment with high dose intravenous steroids, follow-up CT scan demonstrated a normal duodenum and small bowel. This is the first surgically proven case of lupus mesenteric arteritis resulting in bowel ischemia that is demonstrated on CT before and after medical therapy. Lupus mesenteric arteritis should be included in the differential diagnosis of causes of bowel wall thickening and ischemia, especially if mesenteric vessels appear prominent.     

CT定位诊断腹腔内卵巢源性和小肠系膜源性囊性病变的价值

目的探讨螺旋CT对腹腔内卵巢源性和小肠系膜源性囊性病变的定位诊断价值。资料与方法回顾性分析18例临床资料和CT资料完整的卵巢源性和小肠系膜源性囊性病变,均经手术病理证实。着重观察肿块与十二指肠水平段的关系、肠系膜上血管有无移位、系膜血管有无包绕、生殖血管有无增粗、肿块有无卵巢血管蒂,以及肿块的后方有无空肠和回肠等。结果(1)5例小肠系膜囊性病变中,肿块上缘位于十二指肠上缘上方层面3例,肠系膜上血管移位4例,系膜血管包绕4例,肿块后方无空/回肠5例。(2)13例卵巢源性病变中,肿块上缘位于十二指肠上缘上方层面5例,肠系膜上血管移位4例,一侧生殖静脉增粗8例,卵巢血管蒂征显示8例,病变后方显示空/回肠11例。结论依据观察肿块上缘与十二指肠上缘的关系,肠系膜血管有无包绕,生殖血管有无增粗,卵巢血管蒂征的有无,肿块后方有无空肠和回肠显示等征象,以及肿块的CT特点,可对腹腔内卵巢源性和小肠系膜源性囊性病变作出定位诊断。     

Granulocytic sarcoma of bowel: CT findings

PURPOSE: To evaluate retrospectively the computed tomographic (CT) findings of granulocytic sarcoma of the bowel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review boards of all participating institutions approved this study and waived the requirement for informed consent. CT scans were retrospectively reviewed in eight patients (seven men, one woman; age range, 23-71 years; mean age, 46 years) with pathologically proved granulocytic sarcoma of the small and/or large bowel. CT findings were evaluated with regard to the sites, morphologic characteristics, and contrast material enhancement patterns of the lesions, along with other ancillary findings (ie, peritoneal and mesenteric infiltration, ascites, lymphadenopathy, bowel perforation, and obstruction). RESULTS: Eight patients had a total of 13 lesions in the bowel (of which eight were pathologically proved), involving the duodenum (n=1), jejunum (n=2), ileum (n=5), sigmoid colon (n=1), and rectum (n=4); multifocal bowel lesions were noted in four patients. The lesion varied in shape, with wall thickening alone in three of 13 lesions, an intraluminal polypoid mass in four, an exophytic mass in one, and a combination of findings in five. Contrast material enhancement, relative to the back musculature, showed isoattenuation in seven lesions, hyperattenuation in four, and hypoattenuation in two. Five of eight patients had multiple peritoneal masses with diffuse mesenteric or peritoneal infiltration. Ascites was present in six of eight patients; lymphadenopathy (especially in the mesentery), in five; bowel perforation, in two; and bowel obstruction, in one. CONCLUSION: Granulocytic sarcoma of the bowel is characterized by variability in shape and contrast enhancement and has a high predilection for mesenteric and peritoneal spread.     

Rupture of the bowel after blunt abdominal trauma: diagnosis with CT.

OBJECTIVE. The accuracy of CT in the detection of injuries of the solid viscera after blunt trauma is well established, but the value of CT in diagnosing bowel rupture resulting from blunt trauma is controversial. This study was conducted to determine the sensitivity of CT in diagnosing posttraumatic bowel rupture. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. During a 51-month period, 17 preoperative CT scans were obtained in 16 patients who subsequently had bowel ruptures verified surgically. Both preoperative (prospective) and retrospective CT findings were analyzed in these patients. Retrospective interpretation was made by consensus of two radiologists. RESULTS. Surgically confirmed bowel ruptures occurred in the duodenum (five), ileum (four), jejunum (four), colon (four), and stomach (two). CT findings considered diagnostic of bowel perforation were detected prospectively on 10 (59%) of 17 scans; these included pneumoperitoneum without prior peritoneal lavage (six), mesenteric, intramural, or retroperitoneal free air (six), or direct visualization of discontinuity of the bowel wall or extravasation of luminal contents (four). Prospective CT findings considered suggestive of bowel rupture were present on five (29%) of the 17 scans; these included intraperitoneal fluid of unknown source (three), thickened (> 4-5 mm) bowel wall (two), gross anterior pararenal fluid without a recognized source (one), and a mesenteric-bowel wall hematoma (one). On two of 17 scans, findings were seen in retrospect only; these included free intraperitoneal blood without a source (findings on a second CT scan were diagnostic) and pneumoperitoneum. CT findings diagnostic or suggestive of bowel injury were detected prospectively on 15 (88%) of 17 scans and were noted in all retrospectively. CONCLUSION. CT is sensitive for the diagnosis of bowel rupture resulting from blunt trauma, but careful inspection and technique are required to detect often subtle findings.     

CT differentiation of mesenteric ischemia due to vasculitis and thromboembolic disease

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to differentiate CT findings of acute mesenteric ischemia due to vasculitis (MV) or thromboembolism (MTE). METHOD: CT scans of 69 patients with mesenteric ischemia caused by MV (n = 37) or MTE (n = 32) were analyzed. After dividing the patients into groups with and without MV, we compared them with regard to gastrointestinal tract involvement patterns, mesenteric changes, and presence or absence of vascular thrombosis, atherosclerosis, other organ changes, and ascites. RESULTS: Duodenum was involved only in the MV group (30%). The MV group had preferential involvement of the small intestine (89%) to large intestine (51%), whereas the MTE group showed even distribution. Multisegmental bowel involvement was more common in the MV group (86%) than in the MTE group (44%), especially in both jejunum and ileum and both small and large intestine. The MV group showed prominent involvement of the superior mesenteric vessel territory, although the MTE group showed even distribution. Splenomegaly and hydronephrosis were more frequently seen in the MV group and vascular thrombosis and atherosclerosis in the MTE group. CONCLUSION: Although considerable overlap was noted, CT is useful in differentiating MV from MTE.     

Duodenal neoplasms: role of CT

In a retrospective study of 14 cases of duodenal neoplasms evaluated by computed tomography (CT), there were four primary adenocarcinomas of the duodenum, one lymphoma, five metastatic carcinomas, two duodenal lipomas, one villous adenoma, and one leiomyoma. The CT findings were diagnostic in patients with duodenal lipomas. In 11 cases, a primary origin of the mass was clearly identifiable in the duodenum. Thickening of the bowel wall, tumor necrosis, ulceration, and intraluminal defects were common. The relationship of the masses to adjacent structures was clearly shown on CT scans. Extraluminal extent of the lesion was noted on CT scans in seven patients; however, at surgery only four of six were found to have extramural disease. The presence of adenopathy, liver metastases, and vascular and mesenteric invasion were also demonstrated on CT scans. Twelve patients underwent upper gastrointestinal tract series. A duodenal abnormality was seen in all 12 patients, but the extramural extent and distant metastatic involvement could not be seen on these examinations. CT scans allowed the accurate staging of eight of ten malignant lesions and thus helped in the management of duodenal tumors.     

绞窄性肠梗阻的螺旋CT增强扫描征象分析

目的:分析螺旋CT增强扫描图像上绞窄性肠梗阻的征象,提高对绞窄性肠梗阻术前诊断的准确性.方法:64例手术证实的绞窄性肠梗阻病例纳入研究,男43例,女21例,年龄23～72岁,平均42岁.采用单排螺旋CT进行全腹部扫描,对比剂以2～3ml/s速度注射,注射后60s扫描,层厚10mm.参照术中所见,回顾性分析上述CT资料,包括:①间接征象:肠腔扩张积液,肠壁增厚及肠壁密度改变(靶征),肠系膜脂肪水肿及渗出(缆绳征),肠系膜血管增粗并肠系膜扭曲(漩涡征),肠壁间、肠系膜间及门静脉积气,腹水;②直接征象:肠系膜上动脉或上静脉充盈缺损.结果:正确诊断54例,正确率82.8％.CT显示肠腔扩张积液47例(73％),其中6例积液呈高密度提示肠腔内积血(9.3％);肠壁水肿增厚19例(29.6％),其中11例增强后肠壁密度不匀,呈“靶征”(17％),8例肌壁未见强化(12.5％);肠系膜脂肪水肿及渗出(缆绳征)43例(67％),肠系膜血管增粗并肠系膜扭曲呈“漩涡”状9例(14％),肠壁间积气、肠系膜积气各1例,门静脉积气2例,腹水31例(48.4％).肠系膜上动脉或上静脉充盈缺损3例.结论:绞窄性肠梗阻CT表现有一定特征,可做出提示性诊断.     

螺旋CT诊断钝性肠管和肠系膜损伤的临床价值

目的 探讨螺旋CT对急性钝性大小肠和肠系膜损伤的诊断价值.方法 2004-02-2008-05, 急性腹部钝性损伤螺旋CT扫描300例.CT诊断大小肠或/和肠系膜损伤18例,其中16例剖腹手术.2例临床随访.CT表现与手术探查对照分析.结果 肠管和系膜损伤的CT各种表现的诊断准确率分别为:肠壁增厚63%,肠壁破裂100%,肠系膜血肿71%,肠系膜血管中断100%,系膜束带征56%及气腹或肠壁或系膜间积气50%.结论 综合分析肠和肠系膜损伤的直接和间接CT征象,可以较准确地评估肠和肠系膜损伤的程度及损伤部位.     

Crohn disease in the pediatric patient: CT evaluation

Computed tomographic (CT) scans and medical records of 25 children (age range, 10-18 years) with pathologically proved Crohn disease were reviewed to better define the role of CT in the management of pediatric patients with Crohn disease. CT findings included small bowel thickening (range, 5-10 mm) (n = 20), colonic wall thickening (range, 6-15 mm) (n = 15), and small bowel dilation (n = 5). Mesenteric abnormalities such as adenopathy and focal fatty proliferation were seen in 11 to 18 patients, respectively. Extraluminal complications were easily identified with CT. Abscesses were noted in seven patients, inflammatory masses in four, and perirectal or perineal inflammation in 10. Fistulas were detected in four patients. The authors conclude that CT should be the initial imaging study performed in children with known Crohn disease and a changing pattern of clinical symptoms.     

Multislice spiral CT angiography in the evaluation of the anatomy of splanchnic vessels: preliminary experience]

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to optimize the protocol for multislice spiral CT angiography and to assess the ability of the technique to detect the anatomy of splanchnic vessels, using volume rendering as reconstruction algorithm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The anatomy of splanchnic vessels was studied in 19 patients (11 men, 8 women, age range 38-83 years) undergoing CT of the abdomen and pelvis. All examinations were performed with a multislice spiral CT scanner (Somatom Plus 4 Volume Zoom; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) using the following parameters: collimation, 1 mm; slice width, 1 mm; table feed, 8 mm/sec; reconstruction interval, 1 mm; mAs, 120; kVp, 120. Before the study, the patients received 800 ml of water as oral contrast agent to opacify the stomach and small bowel. A nonionic contrast medium (130-140 ml; Xenetix 350, Guerbet, Aulnay-Sous-Bois, France) was infused intravenously at a rate of 3-5 ml/sec. Two scans of the abdomen and pelvis were obtained at 20-25 sec (arterial phase) and 60-65 sec (venous phase) after starting contrast medium injection. Image elaboration was performed using Vitrea 2.2 (Vital Images; Minneapolis, Minn., USA), a software with volume-rendering capabilities. RESULTS: All major arterial (celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and inferior mesenteric artery) and venous (portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, inferior mesenteric vein, and splenic vein) vessels could be evaluated with excellent detail in all patients. Side branches, including small collaterals, could also be easily visualized. Volume rendered images always provided better understanding of the 3D anatomic relationships among splanchnic vessels and surrounding organs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Multislice spiral CT angiography allows for optimal depiction of the anatomy of splanchnic vessels. It can be anticipated that the clinical applications of this imaging modality in the study of splanchnic vessels will be greatly expanded. However, further studies are necessary to rigorously compare the results of multislice spiral CT angiography with conventional angiography in terms of diagnostic accuracy.     

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 features of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with acute abdominal pain: emphasis on ischemic bowel disease

PURPOSE: To evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with acute abdominal pain. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of ischemic bowel disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the images from 39 abdominal CT examinations performed in 33 patients with SLE and acute abdominal pain. Images were evaluated for bowel wall changes, mesenteric changes, fluid collection, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, peritoneal enhancement, and hepatomegaly as well as for changes in other abdominal organs. Ischemic bowel disease was diagnosed if at least three of the following signs were seen: bowel wall thickening, target sign, dilatation of intestinal segments, engorgement of mesenteric vessels, and increased attenuation of mesenteric fat. RESULTS: Thirty-one (79%) of the 39 examinations had CT findings diagnostic of ischemic bowel disease, including symmetric bowel wall thickening (n = 29), target sign (n = 26), and mesenteric vascular engorgement and haziness (n = 31). In 24 cases, bowel wall thickening was multifocal, with variable length, and did not appear to be confined to a single vascular territory. CONCLUSION: The most common CT finding in patients with SLE and acute abdominal pain is ischemic bowel disease. CT is useful for detecting the primary cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, planning treatment, and monitoring for infarction or perforation.     

CT findings of phytobezoar associated with small bowel obstruction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate CT findings of phytobezoar associated with small bowel obstruction. We evaluated abdominal CT of 19 patients with phytobezoar. Abdominal CT of 6 patients with small bowel feces was included for the comparison. On CT we analyzed morphological features of phytobezoars such as location, number, size, shape, and the presence or absence of an encapsulating wall. The sites of the phytobezoar were in the jejunum in 12 patients (63%) and the ileum in 7 (37%). The phytobezoars were single in number in 13 patients (68%) and multiple in 6 (32%). The mean short- and long-axis diameters of the phytobezoars measured 3.2 cm (range 2.1–5.2 cm) and 5.2 cm (range 2.2–11.0 cm), respectively. The phytobezoars were ovoid in 9 patients, round in 6, and tubular in 4. On CT, phytobezoars appeared as gas-containing masses in 17 patients (89%) and as a solid mass without gas in the remaining 2 patients (11%). An encapsulating wall was noted in 6 patients (32%). Small bowel feces were much more tubular in shape but did not have encapsulating wall on CT. The CT imaging is useful in making the diagnosis of phytobezoar associated with small bowel obstruction. Electronic Publication     

Pulmonary metastatic nodules: CT-pathologic correlation.

To elucidate the characteristics of pulmonary metastatic nodules on high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scans, a correlative computed tomographic (CT)-pathologic study was performed with five human lungs after autopsy. The relationship of metastatic nodules to pulmonary vessels was studied with HRCT scans, radiographs of the specimen, and stereomicroscopic study in 264 nodules 0.6-9.0 mm in diameter. On radiographs and stereomicroscopic images, 190 small nodules (less than 3 mm in diameter) were in contact with the pulmonary lobule on the central bronchovascular bundles (n = 33 [17.4%]), located between the central bronchovascular bundle and the perilobular structure (n = 127 [66.8%]), or attached to perilobular structures (n = 30 [15.8%]). On HRCT scans, 21 small nodules (11.1%) were located on the central bronchovascular bundle; 130 small nodules (68.4%), between the central bronchovascular bundle and the perilobular structure; and 39 small nodules (20.5%), on the perilobular structure. On radiographs and stereomicroscopic images, 43 of 74 large nodules (greater than 3 mm in diameter) (58%) compressed both bronchovascular bundles and perilobular structures. The central bronchovascular bundle was invaded in only 13 large nodules (18%).