Learning objectives
To describe the imaging findings of acute small bowel diverticulitis and its complications that can allow a correct differential diagnosis in the setting of acute non traumatic abdominal pain.
Background
Diverticula are out-pouchings of the bowel wall emerging on the mesenteric border that represent mucosal herniation through weak points of the intestinal wall.
Diverticula can be ubiquitarious along the intestinal tract; most frequently they are located in the left colon and sigma,
but can be found in decreasing frequency in the duodenum,
esophagus,
stomach,
jejunum and ileum.
Small bowel diverticula can be classified in two entities: acquired and congenital.
Acquired diverticula are false diverticula because lack the muscular layer.
They are thought to be caused...
Findings and procedure details
CT scan,
with administration of intravenous contrast media,
is the most accurate imaging modality in the diagnosis of small bowel diverticula and its complications.
Small bowel diverticula are often discovered incidentally,
performing radiological examination for other reasons.
They appear as saclike mucosal herniations,
filled with air and/or fluid,
emerging on the mesenteric border of the intestine.
Small bowel diverticulitis usually can be identified on CT images by the presence of: (Fig. 1)
focal thickening of bowel wall adjacent to the inflamed diverticula
preserved mural stratification...
Conclusion
Although small bowel diverticulitis is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain,
it is important for the radiologist in the emergency setting to identify this pathological entity,
as in many cases it has a conservative treatment
Personal information
A.
G.
Tucci,
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences,
Diagnostic Imaging section,University of Naples "Federico II",
Naples (Italy)
Email:
[email protected]
C.
Massimo: Department of Radiology,
Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital,
Pozzuoli (Naples,
Italy)
B.
Cusati: Department of Radiology,
Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital,
Pozzuoli (Naples,
Italy)
B.
Guarino: Department of Radiology,
Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital,
Pozzuoli (Naples,
Italy)
Alfonso Ragozzino,
Department of Radiology,
Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital,
Pozzuoli (Naples,
Italy)
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