title: Volvulus of the splenic flexure: radiographic features.
abstract: Six cases of splenic flexure volvulus were studied over a 14-year period. The patients were aged 15-62 years. Five of the six patients were mentally retarded, lifelong residents of a long-term-care institution. Two patients had congenital absence of normal colonic attachments; the other four patients had elongated mesocolons, presumably from chronic constipation. All patients underwent abdominal radiography, followed by a barium enema study. In the appropriate clinical setting, radiographic diagnosis of a splenic flexure volvulus is suggested when the following are seen: (a) a markedly dilated, air-filled colon wtih an abrupt termination at the anatomic splenic flexure; (b) two widely separated air-fluid levels, one in the transverse colon and the other in the cecum; (c) an empty descending and sigmoid colon; and (d) a characteristic beak at the anatomic splenic flexure at a barium enema examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, CA 94305.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mindelzun
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate