ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of spiral CT in diagnosing ischemic bowel changes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. MethodsThe clinical data and spiral CT imaging files of 23 SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain were retrospectively reviewed. Sixteen had contrastenhanced spiral CT scanning of the abdomen, the rest had plain CT study. Observation emphasis was placed on the changes of bowel wall (wall thickness, enhancement pattern, lumen size) and mesentery (mesenteric edema, engorgement of mesenteric vessels and their abnormal arrangement pattern). Other abnormal findings (e.g. fluid accumulation, changes of abdominal solid organs, lymphadenopathy) were also observed. ResultsNineteen patients had intestinal wall thickening (19/23, 82.6%), with the “target sign” in 12 patients (12/16, 75.0%); Bowel lumen dilatation was present in 16 patients (16/23, 69.6%). Mesenteric swelling with increased density of adipose tissue was noticed in 21 patients (21/23, 91.3%); 18 patients had engorgement of mesenteric vessels (18/23, 78.3%), with comb like arrangement in 4 patients (4/16, 25.0%). Other abnormal findings included ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, hepatosplenomegaly and so on. ConclusionThe most common CT findings in SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain are the signs associated with ischemic bowel disease. Contrastenhanced spiral CT is a preferable imaging method for both the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ischemic bowel disease associated with SLE.
Citation： SONG Bin,XU Juan,LUO Xiaohua,WU Bi,CHENG Yan,ZHANG Jin.. Lupus Ischemic Bowel Disease Presenting as Acute Abdominal Pain——Diagnostic Value of Spiral CT. CHINESE JOURNAL OF BASES AND CLINICS IN GENERAL SURGERY, 2004, 11(4): 359-363. doi: Copy