Korean J Gastroenterol.  2009 Sep;54(3):149-154. 10.4166/kjg.2009.54.3.149.

Clinical Significance of Bowel Wall Thickening Detected with 64-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography

• Jeong JI
• Park BC
• Jeon WJ
• Chae HB
• Park SM
• Youn SJ
• Bae IH
• Park GS

• KMID: 1775950
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2009.54.3.149

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanning frequently leads to the incidental discovery of bowel wall thickening. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of gastroscopy and colonoscopy in the management of patients who had incidental discovery of bowel wall thickening on MDCT. METHODS: From May 2006 to March 2008, the abdominal MDCT reports of all patients in Chungbuk National University Hospital were reviewed. Cases with any bowel thickening was selected and then patients who received gastroscopy or colonoscopy after abdominal MDCT were re-selected. RESULTS: Gastroscopy revealed abnormal findings in 22 (95.7%) out of 23 patients, and 10 patients (43.5%) had stomach cancers. Colonoscopy revealed abnormal findings in 35 (85.4%) out of 41 patients, and 12 patients (29%) had malignant tumors. In the patients who had lymph node enlargement (p<0.001), dirty fat infiltration (p=0.025), and irregular wall thickening (p<0.001) on MDCT malignancy was observed more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend gastroscopy and colonoscopy to patients who had incidentally found bowel wall thickening on MDCT, especially those with lymph node enlargement, dirty fat infiltration, and irregular wall thickening.

Keyword

Bowel wall thickening; Multidetector computed tomography

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Colonic Neoplasms/radiography
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
Female
Humans
Intestines/cytology/*radiography
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Stomach Neoplasms/radiography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Gastroscopic findings in 23 patients with upper bowel wall thickening on MDCT.

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  Fig. 2. Colonoscopic findings in 41 patients with lower bowel wall thickening on MDCT. ∗ Others were consisted of hemorrhoid, rectal varix, and vasculitis.

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