Radiological Aspects of Ischaemic Colitis

Abstract

Sometimes no changes are visible in the initial phase of ischaemic colitis on the plain film of the abdomen. Usually however, after 8 hours to 1 week (Marston et al., 1966; Marshak and Lindner, 1968; Marston, 1977), submucosal oedema and submucosal haemorrhage can change the configuration of the normally haustrated colon wall (Fig. 24-1). Gas within the lumen may accentuate the outline of submucosal oedema which is observed as ‘nodular filling defects’ (Marston et al., 1966), ‘thumbprints’ (Boley et al., 1963) or ‘pseudotumors’ (Schwartz et al., 1964). As oedema increases, the lumen narrows and the haustral pattern may disappear.