The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of CT (computed tomography) in the prior estimation of the injuries’ severity related to caustic ingestion and the extension to the surrounding tissues.

Caustic ingestion, intentional or not, could be responsible for several gastrointestinal injuries. In 80% of cases it occurs in children primarily due to accidental ingestion. However, it can also occur in adults due to psychiatric syndromes or attempted suicide. In the first period, that occurs minutes to a few hours after caustic ingestion, the damage could be caused by thrombosis. A few days after ingestion, onset of bacterial proliferation and ulcers occurs, which could lead to perforation if the muscular plane is crossed. The final...

The knowledge of CT imaging features after caustic ingestion is useful to avoid misdiagnosis. A triphasic protocol investigating the cervical-thoraco-abdominal district is recommended after the injection of weight based dose of iodinated contrast material. During CT scan, patient enters with feet first, lying with arms crossed over the trunk to redistribute beam hardening artefacts. Initially, an unenhanced scan is performed. Next, through bolus tracking, a trigger threshold is defined around +100HU. After bolus tracking, one arterial scan is performed immediately, one portal scan at 60...

CT has the advantage of being reliable, safe, reproducible and not invasive, characteristics which are mandatory to enable its use in emergency. It plays a primary role in the assessment of the evolution of the injuries related to caustic ingestion, allowing the radiologist to establish the depths and the extension of the damages involving the upper gastrointestinal tract and can also be used to define the appropriate therapeutic regimen. It is also important to evaluate pancreas and the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tract, which...

A. Pittari: Nothing to disclose L. A. MAURO: Nothing to disclose M. E. Coronella: Nothing to disclose L. Battaglia: Nothing to disclose C. Ini: Nothing to disclose P. V. Foti: Nothing to disclose S. Palmucci: Nothing to disclose A. Basile: Nothing to disclose

[1]Cutaia, G., Messina, M., Rubino, S. et al. Caustic ingestion: CT findings of esophageal injuries and thoracic complications. Emerg Radiol 28, 845–856 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-021-01918-1 [2]Contini, Sandro, and Carmelo Scarpignato. "Caustic injury of the upper gastrointestinal tract: a comprehensive review." World journal of gastroenterology: WJG 19.25 (2013): 3918. [3]Chirica M, Resche-Rigon M, Zagdanski AM, Bruzzi M, Bouda D, Roland E, Sabatier F, Bouhidel F, Bonnet F, Munoz-Bongrand N, Marc Gornet J, Sarfati E, Cattan P. Computed Tomography Evaluation of Esophagogastric Necrosis After Caustic Ingestion. Ann Surg....