This site is targeted at medical and radiology professionals, contains user contributed content, and material that may be confusing to a lay audience. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use.

Colon cutoff sign

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Omar Bashir et al.

The colon cutoff sign describes gaseaous distension seen in proximal colon associated with with narrowing of the splenic flexure in cases of acute pancreatitis. Though originally described in abdominal radiographs, this sign has also been demonstrated in contrast enemas and computed tomography¹.

This appearance results from inflammatory process extending from the pancreas into the transeverse mesocolon via the phrenicocolic ligament¹.

This article is a stub, which means it needs more content. You can contribute to Radiopaedia.org too. Just register and edit... every little bit helps.

References

This article is in need of some more references!
You can make a difference to Radiopaedia.org by adding some relevant ones.
1. Pickhardt PJ. The colon cutoff sign. Radiology. 2000;215 (2): 387-9. Radiology (citation) - Pubmed citation