1. Diagnostic Radiology
11/09/2011
Elderly male with acute onset of
abdominal distention.
8. Dilated Bowel
Small bowel - >2.5 to 3 cm in diameter
Colon - > 5cm in diameter
Cecum - >8cm in diameter
9. Statistics
Bowel Obstruction
Small Bowel Obstruction 80% Large Bowel Obstruction 20%
Post-surgical adhesions Colon CA (50-60%)
Incarcerated Hernias Diverticulitis
Adhesions Volvulus (3-8%)
Fecal Impaction
Amebiasis
Ischemia
Adhesions
Brant 2006 p 743-745
10. Sigmoid Volvulus
-most common in the elderly & high residue diet
-twists around its mesentery
-closed loop obstruction
-”Large gas filled without haustral markings
arising from the pelvis extending into the
abdomen”
11. References
• Brant , WE and Helms CA. Fundamentals of
Diagnostic Radiology. LWW 2006: 743-745.
• Sigmoid volvulus in the Middle East. World J
Surg. 2008 Mar;32(3):459-64.