Acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia: Multidetector CT and CT angiographic findings

Aim of the workTo assess the role of multidetector CT (MDCT) and CT angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia.Patients and methodsThis prospective study was performed on 57 consecutive patients clinically suspected of having mesenteric ischemia, they were examined with 16-row multidetector CT, MDCT and CTA were evaluated for evidence of bowel wall changes and abnormal mesenteric vascular changes.ResultsTwenty one patients of studied 57 patients had an abnormal CTA finding diagnostic of mesenteric ischemia and they constituted the material of this study, the most prevalent MDCT findings were bowel wall thickening, bowel distension and non-enhanced bowel wall. MDCT and CTA gave an accurate diagnosis of the cause of mesenteric ischemia as proved by the final diagnosis based on surgical exploration, conventional angiography, laboratory investigations and clinical follow up with 100% sensitivity and specificity.ConclusionMDCT and CTA are fast, safe, accurate and non-invasive imaging modalities of choice in patients with suspected mesenteric ischemia which are able to evaluate not only mesenteric vascular structures but also evaluate bowel wall changes and adjacent mesentery, thus detecting the primary cause of mesenteric ischemia that can lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention.