Presentation
Sudden onset left-sided abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea.
Patient Data
Age: 85 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Ischemic colitis
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Smooth circumferential thickening of the colon from the splenic flexure through to the distal sigmoid, with low density and mucosal density. No colonic dilatation and no perforation. Appearances consistent with ischemic colitis. Heavy vascular calcification but no major occlusion.
Case Discussion
Ischemic colitis occurs as a consequence of reduced perfusion to the borderzone of the middle and left colic artery territories, therefore usually affecting the colon from the splenic flexure through to the sigmoid colon. A typical pattern of CT findings is low-density circumferential thickening with no dilatation and a relative paucity of surrounding inflammatory change.