[Thickening of the colon and terminal ileum documented with computer tomography and its correlation with colonoscopic findings at a third-level hospital].
BACKGROUND
Tomographic finding of thickening of colon and terminal ileum and its correlation with colonoscopic findings has been poorly studied. Various radiographic patterns of intestinal thickening suggestive of benign disease have been described, but they cannot completely rule out malignancy.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if a relationship exists between colonic wall or terminal ileum thickening documented by computed tomography with abnormal colonoscopic findings and colon cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective study of radiology database of a tertiary hospital identifying patients with report of thickening of terminal ileum or colon and have colonoscopy performed. It was investigated the performance of endoscopic biopsies and histopathological outcome.


RESULTS
We included 24 patients. The main site of colonic thickening on CT was sigmoid in 8 (33.3%) cases. The most common colonoscopic finding was colorectal tumor probably malignant in 7 (29.2%) patients, but adenocarcinoma was reported in 8 (33.3%) patients. There was a statistically significant relationship between colonic thickening and colorectal cancer (p < 0.001) but no statistically significant association was found between thickening and sigmoid colon cancer. There was statistical significant correlation between weight loss, melena, anemia, constipation, diarrhea, and hematochezia with diagnosis of cancer (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of thickening of colon documented by computed tomography is significantly associated with the presence of colorectal carcinoma. Additional colonoscopy must always be performed in an attempt to elucidate the origin of this thickening.
Cervantes-Solís
C
C
Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México, D. F., México. danteneo@hotmail.com
Jiménez-González
A
A
Zamora-Nava
L E
LE
Torre-Delgadillo
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult