Nonocclusive ischemic colitis in a 12-year-old girl: value of unenhanced spiral computed tomography.
A 12-year-old girl was hit by a car and arrived in the emergency room in hemorrhagic shock. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed traumatic rupture of the liver and large amounts of intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Unenhanced computed tomography showed a hyperdense thickening of the wall of the descending colon. This finding was consistent with a nonocclusive ischemic colitis, which was confirmed some days later by endoscopy, at a time when the patient had already developed Gram-negative bacteremia. We discuss the pathogenesis of nonocclusive ischemic colitis, computed tomography findings, and the value of unenhanced computed tomography.
Wiesner
W
W
Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. wwiesner@uhbs.ch
Willi
U V
UV
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D017091:Colitis, Ischemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003287:Contrast Media