HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brody, J. M. Articles by Cioffi, W. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brody, J. M. Articles by Cioffi, W. G. Related Collections Computed Tomography Emergency Radiology Gastrointestinal Radiology Related Article

CT of Blunt Trauma Bowel and Mesenteric Injury: Typical Findings and Pitfalls in Diagnosis¹

¹ From the Departments of Diagnostic Imaging (J.M.B., D.B.L., B.L.M., G.F.A., J.P.V.), Emergency Medicine (L.J.), and Surgery (W.G.C.), Brown University School of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy St, Providence, RI 02903. Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for a scientific exhibit at the 1999 RSNA scientific assembly. Received March 27, 2000; revision requested April 25 and received June 28; accepted July 6. Address correspondence to J.M.B. (e-mail: jbrody@lifespan.org).

Detection of bowel and mesenteric injury can be challenging in patients after blunt abdominal trauma. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to decrease patient morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography (CT) has become the primary modality for the imaging of these patients. Signs of bowel perforation such as free air and contrast material are virtually pathognomonic. Bowel-wall thickening, free fluid, and mesenteric infiltration may be seen with this type of injury and partial thickness injuries. The authors present and discuss the range of CT findings seen with bowel and mesenteric injuries. Examples of observation and interpretation errors are also provided to highlight pitfalls encountered in the evaluation of abdominopelvic CT scans in patients after blunt trauma.

Index Terms: Gastrointestinal tract, CT, 74.1211, 75.1211 • Gastrointestinal tract, hemorrhage, 74.41, 74.43, 75.41, 75.43 • Gastrointestinal tract, perforation, 74.41, 74.43, 75.41, 75.43 • Intestines, hemorrhage, 74.41, 74.43, 75.41, 75.43 • Intestines, injuries, 74.41, 74.43, 75.41, 75.43 • Intestines, perforation, 74.41, 74.43, 75.41, 75.43 • Trauma

Related Article

Invited Commentary

Stuart E. Mirvis
RadioGraphics 2000 20: 1536-1537. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Atri, J. M. Hanson, L. Grinblat, N. Brofman, T. Chughtai, and G. Tomlinson Surgically Important Bowel and/or Mesenteric Injury in Blunt Trauma: Accuracy of Multidetector CT for Evaluation Radiology, September 16, 2008; (2008) 2492072055. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. O Jansen, S. R Yule, and M. A Loudon Investigation of blunt abdominal trauma BMJ, April 26, 2008; 336(7650): 938 - 942. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A M TARRANT, M F RYAN, P A HAMILTON, and O BENJAMINOV A pictorial review of hypovolaemic shock in adults Br. J. Radiol., March 1, 2008; 81(963): 252 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kim, T. U. Kim, J. W. Lee, T. H. Lee, S. H. Lee, T. Y. Jeon, and K. H. Kim The Perihepatic Space: Comprehensive Anatomy and CT Features of Pathologic Conditions RadioGraphics, January 1, 2007; 27(1): 129 - 143. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Brofman, M. Atri, J. M. Hanson, L. Grinblat, T. Chughtai, and F. Brenneman Evaluation of Bowel and Mesenteric Blunt Trauma with Multidetector CT. RadioGraphics, July 1, 2006; 26(4): 1119 - 1131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Stuhlfaut, G. Barest, O. Sakai, B. Lucey, and J. A. Soto Impact of MDCT Angiography on the Use of Catheter Angiography for the Assessment of Cervical Arterial Injury After Blunt or Penetrating Trauma Am. J. Roentgenol., October 1, 2005; 185(4): 1063 - 1068. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Stuhlfaut, J. A. Soto, B. C. Lucey, A. Ulrich, N. K. Rathlev, P. A. Burke, and E. F. Hirsch Blunt Abdominal Trauma: Performance of CT without Oral Contrast Material Radiology, December 1, 2004; 233(3): 689 - 694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F Abbasakoor and C Vaizey Pathophysiology and management of bowel and mesenteric injuries due to blunt trauma Trauma, October 1, 2003; 5(4): 199 - 214. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. V. Jayaraman, W. W. Mayo-Smith, J. S. Movson, D. E. Dupuy, and M. T. Wallach CT of the Duodenum: An Overlooked Segment Gets Its Due RadioGraphics, October 1, 2001; 21(90001): S147 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]