Thumbprinting is a radiographic sign of large bowel wall thickening, usually caused by edema, related to an infective or inflammatory process (colitis). The normal haustra become thickened at regular intervals appearing like thumbprints projecting into the aerated lumen.
Pathology
Etiology
Thumbprinting may be seen in:
- inflammatory bowel disease
- infection (i.e. pseudomembranous colitis)
- ischemic bowel
- diverticulitis
- mucosal/submucosal hemorrhage 2
- lymphoma
- amyloid
- typhlitis
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph/CT
Thumb-shaped, nodular, indentations at regular intervals in the bowel wall.
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