ISSN:
1438-1435
Keywords:
Computed tomography
;
Pneumatosis intestinalis
;
Volvulus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract An 80-year-old man presented with progressive left-sided abdominal pain and distention. His abdominal plain radiograph revealed a focally dilated, redundant loop of sigmoid colon, having a mottled appearance. A computed tomographic (CT) scan with soft tissue settings showed no evidence of pneumatosis; however, with lung window settings [mean, —600 Hounsfield units (HU); width, 1000 HU], intramural pockets of air were seen in the bowel wall. The pneumatosis was presumed secondary to recurrent sigmoid volvulus. The utility of CT lung windows to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract in patients with acute abdominal conditions cannot be overemphasized.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01507741
