title: Stercoral colitis leading to fatal peritonitis: CT findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stercoral colitis is an inflammatory process involving the colonic wall related to fecal impaction. Our purpose was to describe the imaging findings of stercoral colitis and ulceration and to emphasize the potential serious clinical implications of the condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fecal impaction may lead to ischemic pressure necrosis and subsequent colonic perforation. In the appropriate clinical setting, the imaging findings that should prompt the radiologist to consider this diagnosis are the presence of fecal impaction, focal colonic wall thickening, and adjacent stranding of the fat. If the fecal impaction is not promptly relieved, the condition can lead to colonic perforation, peritonitis, and patient demise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Abdominal Imaging, NYU Medical Center, 560 First Ave., Ste. HW 207, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Cathleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: H Leon
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Pachter
authors.forename: Alec J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Megibow
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine