Colon cut-off sign
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- updated 17 Aug 2022:
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The colon cut-off sign describes gaseous distension seen in the proximal colon associated with abrupt termination of gas within the colon usually at the level of the splenic flexure and decompression of the more distal part of the colon. Though originally described in abdominal radiographs, this sign has also been demonstrated on contrast enemas and computed tomography 1,3.
Differential diagnosis
The colon cut-off sign can be seen in pathologies of the left upper abdomen:
acute pancreatitis: results from inflammatory process extending from the pancreas into the phrenicocolic ligament via the transverse mesocolon 1
See also
-<p>The<strong> colon cut-off sign</strong> describes gaseous distension seen in the proximal colon associated with abrupt termination of gas within the colon usually at the level of the <a title="Splenic flexure" href="/articles/left-colic-flexure">splenic flexure</a> and decompression of the more distal part of the colon. Though originally described in abdominal radiographs, this sign has also been demonstrated on contrast enemas and computed tomography <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>The colon cut-off sign can be seen in pathologies of the left upper abdomen:</p><ul>-<li>-<a href="/articles/acute-pancreatitis">acute pancreatitis</a>: results from inflammatory process extending from the pancreas into the <a title="Phrenicocolic ligament" href="/articles/phrenicocolic-ligament">phrenicocolic ligament</a> via the <a title="Transverse mesocolon" href="/articles/transverse-mesocolon">transverse mesocolon</a> <sup>1</sup>-</li>-<li><a href="/articles/carcinoma-of-colon">carcinoma of the colon</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/inflammatory-bowel-disease">inflammatory bowel disease</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/small-bowel-ischaemia">mesenteric ischaemia</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-rupture-2">abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/gastric-cancer-summary">stomach tumours</a></li>-</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/sentinel-loop">sentinel loop</a></li></ul>- +<p>The<strong> colon cut-off sign</strong> describes gaseous distension seen in the proximal colon associated with abrupt termination of gas within the colon usually at the level of the <a href="/articles/left-colic-flexure" title="Splenic flexure">splenic flexure</a> and decompression of the more distal part of the colon. Though originally described in abdominal radiographs, this sign has also been demonstrated on contrast enemas and computed tomography <sup>1,3</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>The colon cut-off sign can be seen in pathologies of the left upper abdomen:</p><ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/acute-pancreatitis">acute pancreatitis</a>: results from inflammatory process extending from the pancreas into the <a href="/articles/phrenicocolic-ligament" title="Phrenicocolic ligament">phrenicocolic ligament</a> via the <a href="/articles/transverse-mesocolon" title="Transverse mesocolon">transverse mesocolon</a> <sup>1</sup></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/carcinoma-of-colon">carcinoma of the colon</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/inflammatory-bowel-disease">inflammatory bowel disease</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/small-bowel-ischaemia">mesenteric ischaemia</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-rupture-2">abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture</a> <sup>3</sup></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/gastric-cancer-summary">stomach tumours</a> <sup>3</sup></p></li>
- +</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul><li><p><a href="/articles/sentinel-loop">sentinel loop</a></p></li></ul>