Characterization of Bowel Lesions with Multi-detector CT Scan

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to characterize various bowel pathologies, as well as usefulness of Multidetector CT scan in differentiating benign versus malignant lesions and to evaluate CT findings with histological data. Material and methods: This prospective study was done in radiology department of Dhiraj Hospital, SBKSMIRC, Sumandeep Vidhyapeeth University, Vadodara, India during period of April, 2015 to September, 2017. 94 patients with clinical presentation of bowel, mesentery and related pathologies were selected and underwent CT scan. Diagnosis was confirmed by following up patient with USG or CT, Other radiological and non-radiological investigation and/or surgery and histopathology. Results: The mean age of patients was 50 years. Pathology is more common in male (61) as compared to females (33). Among the 94 patients included in the study, 2 had congenital lesions, 26 had infective and inflammatory lesions, 5 had ischemic bowel conditions, 54 had neoplastic lesions of bowel and 7 had miscellaneous bowel conditions. Colorectal malignancy is most common (82.36%) malignant lesion with rectosigmoid region (52.38%) as most common area. Differentiation of benign from malignant lesions can be done by certain characteristics of the lesions at CT scan, like degree of wall thickening, symmetry of wall thickening, length of wall thickening and postcontrast enhacement pattern. Conclusion: No single characteristic is highly specific for differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Careful analysis of characteristics of lesions on CT scan helps to narrow down the differential diagnosis. Thus, multidetector CT scan is “The imaging modality of choice” for characterization of bowel lesions.