MDCT of acute conditions affecting the mesenteric vasculature.
Acute conditions affecting the mesenteric vessels can cause abdominal pain and result in significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and treated quickly. As bowel viability depends on patency of the mesenteric vessels, prompt diagnosis is essential. Helical multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) provides a rapid, widely available, non-invasive method to promptly evaluate the mesenteric arteries, veins, and abdominopelvic viscera. Given the value of MDCT in diagnosing vascular disease, it is important the radiologist understand technical and imaging findings of mesenteric vascular injury. Therefore, successful diagnosis hinges on familiarity with MDCT angiography and the extended capabilities of volume rendering and multiplanar reformation. In this review, we illustrate and describe key MDCT findings of congenital, inflammatory, traumatic, infectious, and thromboembolic conditions affecting the mesenteric vasculature in adult patients.
Department of Radiology, Division of Abdominal Imaging, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: hellermt@upmc.edu.
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MT
Heller
Department of Radiology, New York Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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Shah
Department of Radiology, Division of Abdominal Imaging, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Furlan
D000208:Acute Disease; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D008643:Mesentery / Q000293:injuries; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging