Objective To determine the frequencies and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening at muti-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.
Methods One hundred and nine patients with cirrhosis and 130 patients without cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening were retrospectively analyzed by the abdominal MSCT scans. The frequencies of wall thickening were determined in the cirrhosis patients and in those without cirrhosis. The segmental distribution, symmetry and enhancement pattern were evaluated in all patients with cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening.
Results Gastrointestinal wall thickening was seen in 72 cases (66%) with cirrhosis patients and in 12 cases (9%) without cirrhosis patients (P lt;0.005). The jejunum and ascending colon were the most common sites of gastrointestinal wall thickening, which was involved in 32 and 31 patients respectively. The scans of 46 (64%) patients with gastrointestinal wall thickening showed multisegmental distribution. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was concentric and homogeneous in all patients with cirrhosis.
Conclusion Gastrointestinal wall thickening is common in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. It frequently involves multiple segments. The jejunum and ascending colon are the most common sites of involvement. MSCT plays an invaluable role in diagnostic evaluation of bowel wall thickening in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.
Citation: CAI Wei,CHEN Guangwen,SONG Bin,YANG Taizhu. Gastrointestinal Wall Thickening in Patients with Hepatic Cirrhosis: MSCT Findings and Clinical Implications. CHINESE JOURNAL OF BASES AND CLINICS IN GENERAL SURGERY, 2009, 16(4): 329-332. doi: Copy