Unusual Causes of Colonic Wall Thickening on Computed Tomography

• Published in: Clinical Radiology Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 191 - 200
• Main Authors: Turner, D.R, Markose, G, Arends, M.J, Ng, C.S, Freeman, A.H
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Colonic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Colonic Diseases - pathology; colonic wall thickening; Colonography, Computed Tomographic - methods; computed tomography; Digestive system; eosinophilic colitis; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome - pathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnostic imaging; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; lymphocytic colitis; Lymphocytosis - diagnostic imaging; Lymphocytosis - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; systemic lupus erythematosus; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; computed tomography; systemic lupus erythematosus; lymphocytic colitis; colonic wall thickening; eosinophilic colitis; Skin disease; Intestinal wall; Autoimmune disease; Systemic disease; Intestinal disease; Adult; Lupus erythematosus; Colon; Diagnosis; Disseminated; Thickening; Human; Immunopathology; Connective tissue disease; Radiodiagnosis; Differential diagnostic; Eosinophil; Case study; Pathology; Symptomatology; Digestive diseases; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Colitis; Lymphocyte; Elderly
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-9260(02)00468-3

Computed tomography (CT) appearances in “colitis” are often non-specific, and include mural thickening and mesenteric fat stranding. In the western world, the majority of cases will have, or be subsequently diagnosed with, inflammatory bowel disease, pseudomembranous colitis or ischaemic colitis. However, other rare conditions may also produce these rather non-specific signs. We present a number of cases demonstrating colonic wall thickening on CT due to rarer diagnoses, which are correlated with the histopathological features. Some of these CT appearances have not been described previously in the literature.