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Counterclockwise barber-pole sign on CT: SMA/SMV variance without midgut malrotation

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Abstract

We report on a 10-year-old girl who presented with worsening pain and anorexia after blunt trauma to the abdomen. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen was performed, and a counterclockwise rotation of the superior mesenteric vein around the superior mesenteric artery was seen. An upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series with small-bowel follow-through demonstrated a normally located duodenal–jejunal junction. This is the first case report of a counterclockwise barber-pole sign seen by CT with UGI that was negative for malrotation or volvulus.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Michael Mahlon for his assistance with illustrations and figures and Drs. Robert M. DiMauro, Mitchell A. Moy, and Veronica J. Rooks for their comments on this case.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Paul Clark & Lynne Ruess

  2. Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and Pediatrics, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA

    Lynne Ruess

Authors
  1. Paul Clark
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  2. Lynne Ruess
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Correspondence to Lynne Ruess.

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The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government

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Clark, P., Ruess, L. Counterclockwise barber-pole sign on CT: SMA/SMV variance without midgut malrotation. Pediatr Radiol 35, 1125–1127 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-1517-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-005-1517-4

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