To demonstrate the range of CT appearances of selected diseases causing acute abdominal pain. To narrow differential diagnosis based on more accentuated fat stranding than the degree of bowel wall thickening. To demonstrate the relevance of the correct non invasive diagnosis and its influence in the choice of appropriate therapy.

Most acute inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including infectious and non-infectious, are centered in the bowel wall and for these diseases the degree of bowel wall thickening exceeds the degree of associated fat stranding (Fig. 1). In some acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the pathologic process is centered in the mesentery adjacent to the bowel wall, therefore fat stranding is often more accentuated than the degree of wall thickening (Fig. 2). List of diseases that typically manifest disproportionate fat stranding is short –...

Diverticulitis Diverticula are small bulging pouches of mucosa and submucosa through the muscularis of the colonic wall. Diverticula can be found anywhere in the colon, but predominantly in the descending and sigmoid colon. They can also occur anywhere in the digestive system, but they are less common than those arising from the colon. Diverticulitis results from the obstruction of the neck of the diverticulum, with subsequent inflammation, perforation and infection. The infection may later progress to abscess formation and/or generalised peritonitis. The appearance of acute...

The observation of accentuated fat stranding is a helpful CT sign in patients with acute abdominal pain. This sign helps to narrow differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases to four main entities: diverticulitis, epiploic appendagitis, omental infarction and appendicitis. The characteristic CT findingsof mentioned diseases often leads to a final diagnosis which is essential in choice of appropriate therapy.

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