["Fat halo sign of the colon": not only in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. An illustrated case-report].
A 76-year old man was referred for radiological evaluation of recurrent left sided flank pain, micro-haematuria and renal cysts. Computer tomographic findings were colon wall-thickening and submucosal fat (fat halo sign) throughout the entire length of the colon. Fat halo sign is thought to be a reliable marker for inflammatory bowel disease. It has also been reported in patients receiving cytoreductive therapy or in patients with graft-versus-host disease. A relation between short segment fat halo sign and obesity in asymptomatic patients is presumed. None of these conditions apply for this patient without evidence of previous or present gastrointestinal disease. The striking changes of the colon wall are exceptional, although they have to be considered as a normal finding.
Schwarz
J
J
Institut für Radiologie, Medizinische Radiologie, Universitätsspital Basel.
Studler
U
U
Bongartz
G
G
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed