title: The efficacy of helical CT in the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the usefulness and reliability of helical computed tomography (CT) for patients with small bowel obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Helical CT findings of 41 patients were evaluated prospectively on the basis of the presence and the cause of obstruction, and the presence of strangulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the determination of the cause of the obstruction sensitivity and specificity of CT were 84 and 90%, respectively. Of the 19 patients undergoing surgery, 6 had strangulation and were correctly identified by CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helical CT is an accurate method in the detection of small bowel obstruction, especially for evaluating the cause and vascular complications of obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. fobuz@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Obuz
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.forename: Selman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sökmen
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Didem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Füzün
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media