The "creeping fat sign"-really diagnostic for Crohn's disease?
BACKGROUND
Focal or regionally prominent mesenteric fat adjacent to wall-thickened bowel loops can be readily identified by computed tomography. The so-called creeping fat of the right lower quadrant is usually considered to be an important clue for diagnosing Crohn's disease. However, when the sign is isolated, indistinct, and not set in the proper clinical context, the radiologist should consider other inflammatory conditions of the bowel and its appendages.


CONCLUSIONS
Controlled studies are needed to confirm the diagnostic use of the "creeping fat sign" in clinical practice.
Golder
Werner A
WA
Association d'Imagerie Médicale, 65, rue Raymond Poincaré, F-10000, Troyes, France, werner.golder@orange.fr
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008643:Mesentery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed