Intestinal Bowel Wall Thickening Analysis on MDCT: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the causes and establish the significance of bowel wall thickening on abdominal computed tomography. Subjects and Methods: Consecutive abdominal CT’s between January 2019 and December 2019 with findings of duodenal, jejunal, ileal and colonic ‘bowel wall thickening ‘on the formal report was reviewed retrospectively. The patients history, inpatient course & subsequent colonoscopy and /or operative findings were also reviewed. Results: Of the 88 consecutive CT abdomen’s identified, infection (26.1%) and new cancer (22.7%) were the most common causes. Bowel obstruction (12.5%) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (10.2%) were relatively uncommon causes. Overall 40/88 (45%) & 14/88 (15%) patients underwent subsequent colonoscopy and progressed directly to surgery respectively; of these 36/40 (90%) of the former and 14/14 (100%) of the latter showed findings similar to CT. Conclusion: When thickening of the bowel is detected with CT; pattern of the thickening, accompanying findings, history of the patient and clinical features must be evaluated together to reach prompt and correct diagnosis. All cases detected with bowel wall thickening on CT abdomen should warrant a subsequent colonoscopy.