Characterization of Bowel wall thickening with CT Scan

Abstract

Introduction: Computed tomography demonstrates intestinal wall abnormalities that can be analysed by categorizing attenuation changes in the intestinal wall and transposing morphologic characteristics learned from barium studies. These attenuation patterns include white, gray, water halo sign, fat halo sign, and black. Materials and Methods:This isaProspective and observational studyconducted in the Department of Radiology, Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimogaamong 65 patients. The phrase “colonic wall thickening” was scanned and the CT reports in which abdominal CT was taken and reported between January 2019 to September 2019. Inclusion Criteria:Patients clinical presentation of bowel, mesentery and related pathologies arising from duodenum to rectum were selected for this study and underwent Multidetector CT scan. Diagnosis was confirmed by following up patient with USG or CT, Other radiological and non-radiological investigation and/or surgery and histopathology. Exclusion Criteria: Patients had heart failure, hypoalbuminemia, and nephrotic syndrome that could affect colon wall thickness. Results: Among the 65 patients included in the study, 1 (1.5%) had congenital lesions, 27 (41.5%) had infective and inflammatory lesions, 3 (4.6%) had ischemic bowel conditions, 31 (47.6%) had neoplastic lesions of bowel and 3 (4.6%) had miscellaneous bowel conditions. Out of 65 cases lesion, colitis (infective/ inflammatory bowel lesions) was 3 cases showed mild (<1.5 cm) bowel wall thickening. Out of 65 cases of lesion of bowel, 33 cases showed asymmetrical bowel wall thickening. Out of 65 cases of bowel, 34 showed focal bowel wall thickening (<10 cm) and 8 showed segmental bowel wall thickening (>10 cm). Out of 65 cases of lesions, 12 (66.67%) cases showed segmental (>10 cm) bowel wall thickening.Conclusion: Careful analysis of characteristics of lesions on CT scan helps to narrow down the differential diagnosis. Thus, multidetector CT scan is “The imaging modality of choice” for characterization of bowel lesions.