Enteritis (plural: enteritides) refers to inflammation of the small bowel. When associated with inflammation of the stomach, the term gastroenteritis is used which is usually caused by infection.
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Pathology
Aetiology
- infection
- eosinophilic enteritis
- ischaemia
- inflammatory bowel disease
- radiation
- lymphoma
- intramural haemorrhage
- shocked bowel
- vasculitides
- portal hypertension
- hypoproteinaemia
- sprue
- scleroderma
- systemic lupus erythematosus: lupus enteritis
- Whipple disease
- amyloidosis
- drugs
- chemotherapy-induced
Radiographic features
The main feature of enteritis is small bowel wall thickening. Low density submucosal oedema can usually be differentiated from higher density mural haemorrhage or infiltration. Dilatation or strictures may be present, the latter if chronic.
Differential diagnosis
For bowel wall thickening, consider non-inflammatory causes such as: