Sonographic findings in a model of ischemia-induced necrotizing enterocolitis with pathological correlations.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sonographic findings in ischemic enterocolitis (IEC) and correlate with pathologic findings in an experimental study.


METHODS
Ischemic enterocolitis was induced with ligation of the superior mesenteric artery in 20 rabbits. Plain radiography and ultrasonography (US) were performed. US was done hourly after the ligation using 10 MHz linear probe. US findings were categorized into 2 groups according to the bowel wall echogenicity; the echogenic dots (ED) group and the circumferential granular echogenicity (CGE) group. US findings were compared with the specimen radiography and the histopathology.


RESULTS
On US, ED were seen in the bowel of all rabbits after SMA ligation (2.2 +/- 1.3 hours [standard deviation]) and CGE in 16 rabbits (4.1 +/- 0.9 hours). On the specimen radiographs, multiple radiolucent air bubbles were present. Comparing the ED and CGE group, histopathological findings revealed the CGE group had severer injury of the bowel wall than the ED group. On plain radiography, there was progressive bowel distention, but pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) was not evident.


CONCLUSIONS
ED or CGE are the sonographic findings of ischemic enterocolitis, and bowel wall echogenicity might reflect the degree of ischemic injury.
Kim
Wha-Young
WY
Department of Radiology, CHA Hospital, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Korea.
Kim
In-One
IO
Kim
Woo Sun
WS
Yeon
Kyung Mo
KM
Kim
Gwang Il
GI
Lee
Sun Wha
SW
Suh
Jeong Soo
JS
Choi
Hye-Young
HY
Chang
Kyu-Jin
KJ
D000818:Animals; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008026:Ligation; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography