Ischemic Colitis Demonstrated by Computed Tomography

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) performed on two patients with abdominal pain showed irregular, segmental thickening of the submucosa of the colon that proved to be due to ischemic colitis. In one case, CT showed narrowing of the lumen of the right colon by a polypoidal mass that was clearly the CT analog of thumbprinting. In the second case, CT was used as an alternative to barium studies to monitor the course of the patient. It is concluded that CT can be useful in the diagnosis and management of colonic ischemia.