Background and AimCrohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) have similar symptomatology and overlapping features on imaging, endoscopy, and histopathology. It is important to differentiate ITB from CD to initiate correct medical management. This prospective study aimed to characterize imaging features on computed tomography enteroclysis/enterography (CTE) that help in differentiating ITB from CD.MethodsA total of 300 consecutive patients who underwent CTE with the suspicion of small bowel diseases were evaluated. CTE findings were documented on a detailed “CTE case record form” and were correlated with other investigations like endoscopy, histopathological and microbiological examination, and improvement on empirical therapy to arrive at a final diagnosis. Only confirmed cases of ITB/CD were included for further analysis.ResultsFinal diagnoses revealed that 61 patients had ITB, 24 had CD, 90 patients had a final diagnosis not related to ITB/CD, and 125 had no bowel‐related diseases. The sensitivity of CTE (ITB vs CD, 90.2 vs 91.6%) was higher than the sensitivity of ileocolonoscopy (ITB vs CD, 87 vs 83.3%). A homogenous pattern of bowel wall thickening and confluent bowel involvement were significantly more common in ITB. Stratified bowel wall thickening with mucosal hyperenhancement, skip lesions in the bowel, and a comb sign were significantly more common in CD. Stratified bowel wall enhancement with an intervening layer of fat was specifically (P < 0.001) seen in patients with CD, and necrotic (P = 0.002) and calcified (P = 0.055) lymph nodes were specifically seen in patients with ITB.ConclusionWe propose a systematic approach to the radiological differentiation of ITB from CD.

Secondary infections in coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pneumonia in association with lung cavitation are rare findings. The development of cavitation has been attributed to aseptic liquefaction of pulmonary thromboemboli or secondary infection, resulting in the formation of pneumatoceles. Rupture of a large pneumatocele may lead to the development of pneumothorax. We report the case of a 56-year-old male who was treated for COVID-19 pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) but developed pneumothorax and a cavitary lesion in the recovery period. This was further complicated by a co-infection with Aspergillus fumigatus in endotracheal secretions. The pneumothorax failed to resolve and there was a failure to wean off mechanical ventilation, culminating in death after 2 weeks. This case report highlights the need to monitor for small pneumatoceles even in the recovery phase of COVID-19 which may predispose to pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum.

Portal hypertension is characterized by elevated pressure in portal venous system due to portal resistance due to various causes. The etiologies are either pre-hepatic, hepatic, or post-hepatic. Elevated portal pressure results in varices at various sites some of which are difficult to identify on endoscopy alone. Other manifestations of elevated portal pressure include portal gastropathy, enteropathy, colopathy, gastric antral vascular ectasia, and ascites. Imaging plays an essential role in diagnosis and imaging of various manifestations of portal hypertension by determining the locations of varices and plan the management for same. Endoscopy helps in visualizing mucosal varices but newer imaging modalities give a panoramic extent of the disease in the entire gastrointestinal tract with great specificity and sensitivity. Initially, Barium study was used to determine esophageal or gastric varices, computed tomography provides detailed anatomic information which can be used to plan management. Due to advancement in imaging and interventional techniques, treatment for varices has seen advent of multiple minimally invasive interventional radiological techniques. A brief outlook on anatomical aspect of varices and various recent advances in management of the same has been provided. Overall knowledge of the various imaging manifestations of portal hypertension can be helpful to evaluate prognosis and plan proper management.

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