Case Of the Week (COW) 25 October 2015
SMA Thrombosis
Findings:
Filling defect noted in the superior mesenteric artery just beyond its origin Uniformly enhancing bowel wall thickening noted involving the jejunal loops.
Discussion:
It is caused by insufficient blood flow to the intestine from various causes, including thromboembolism, nonocclusive causes, bowel obstruction, neoplasms, vasculitis, abdominal inflammatory conditions, trauma, drugs (chemotherapy), radiation, and corrosive injury. The most common CT finding in bowel ischemia is bowel wall thickening Other CT findings of bowel ischemia include arterial occlusion, mesenteric or portal vein thrombosis, bowel dilatation, engorgement of mesenteric veins and mesenteric edema, intramural gas (intestinal pneumatosis), mesenteric or portal venous gas, lack of bowel wall enhancement, increased enhancement of the thickened bowel wall, and infarction of other abdominal organs (eg, liver, spleen, or kidneys). Bowel dilatation reflects the interruption of peristaltic activity in ischemic segments.
SMA Thrombosis
Findings:
Filling defect noted in the superior mesenteric artery just beyond its origin Uniformly enhancing bowel wall thickening noted involving the jejunal loops.
Discussion:
It is caused by insufficient blood flow to the intestine from various causes, including thromboembolism, nonocclusive causes, bowel obstruction, neoplasms, vasculitis, abdominal inflammatory conditions, trauma, drugs (chemotherapy), radiation, and corrosive injury. The most common CT finding in bowel ischemia is bowel wall thickening Other CT findings of bowel ischemia include arterial occlusion, mesenteric or portal vein thrombosis, bowel dilatation, engorgement of mesenteric veins and mesenteric edema, intramural gas (intestinal pneumatosis), mesenteric or portal venous gas, lack of bowel wall enhancement, increased enhancement of the thickened bowel wall, and infarction of other abdominal organs (eg, liver, spleen, or kidneys). Bowel dilatation reflects the interruption of peristaltic activity in ischemic segments.