Small bowel diaphragm disease

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 14 Aug 2023

Small bowel diaphragm disease is a rare clinical entity involving diaphragm-like septa causing small bowel lumen narrowing.

Small bowel diaphragm disease is a relatively rare disease, with limited reported literature on its incidence and prevalence 1.

The following risk factors are thought to increase the likelihood of small bowel diaphragm disease 1:

The majority of patients are asymptomatic until demonstrating signs of intestinal obstruction. Symptoms include abdominal pain, distension, nausea, vomiting and inability to pass flatus. Additional clinical features the patient may demonstrate are signs of iron deficiency anemia.

Diagnosis is typically made on pathology. Nevertheless, radiographical features may suggest a diagnosis.

CT features include 2:

  • multiple strictures appearing as focal areas of stenosis and associated bowel wall thickening (more commonly ileal involvement compared to jejunal involvement)

  • mucosal hyperenhancement (representing likely ulceration)

Importantly, small bowel strictures may appear without significant small-bowel dilatation.

Management is typically surgical, involving small bowel resection, combined resection and stricturoplasty, or in rare cases involving stricturoplasty and hemicolectomy 1, 3

Long term management involves lifelong cessation of the offending agent, e.g. NSAIDs.

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