Fluid Levels in Diverticula of the Small Intestine: A Radiological Sign Simulating Obstruction

The clinical and metabolic significance of jejunal diverticula

“…Badenoch, Bedford, and Evans (1955) have also commented upon the difficulties that may be encountered with radiography: sacs with small openings may not always fill with barium and small diverticula may be difficult to differentiate from adjacent loops of small intestine. Plain radiographs of the abdomen with the patient in an upright position may occasionally be diagnostic, or mimic intestinal obstruction, as pointed out by Butler in 1933, andstressed by Philips (1953), Stromme (1956), and Johnson and Wysor (1961).…”

Jejunal Diverticulosis with Malabsorption Leading to Osteomalacia and Probable Rickets

“…The differentiation from acute intestinal obstruction in a patient presenting with abdominal pain and vomiting can be very difficult, especially as the radiological appearances on straight abdominal X-ray can be similar [Johnson et al, 1961;Stromme, 1956]. A useful point is that diverticula tend to produce short isolated fluid levels ( fig.…”

Jejunal Diverticulosis, Megaloblastic Anaemia and Partial Gastric Atrophy

“…The radiological diagnosis of diverticula should not be difficult although cases have been misinterpreted. On the plain erect film of the abdomen the multiple fluid levels may be confused with small bowel obstruction (Johnson and Wysor, 1961;Stromme, 1956). Diverticula usually produce short isolated levels, in distinction to small bowel obstruction, where the levels are long, or obviously paired at the end of dilated loops.…”