Thumbprinting is a radiographic sign of large bowel wall thickening, usually caused by oedema, 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
Aetiology
Thumbprinting may be seen in:
- inflammatory bowel disease
- infection (i.e. pseudomembranous colitis)
- ischaemic bowel
- diverticulitis
- mucosal/submucosal haemorrhage 2
- lymphoma
- amyloid
- typhlitis
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph/CT
Thumb-shaped, nodular, indentations at regular intervals in the bowel wall.
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