CT appearance of intestinal ischemia and intramural hemorrhage

CT scans have become an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of abdominal disease. Patients with intestinal ischemia or intramural hemorrhage often are referred for radiologic evaluation because clinical and laboratory findings are not sufficiently specific for the physician to make a definitive diagnosis. The cross-sectional capability of CT scans permits direct visualization of mural, serosal, and mesenteric processes that usually can only be indirectly evaluated by conventional plain film or barium studies. Although the CT scan findings in intestinal ischemia and intramural hemorrhage often are relatively nonspecific, knowledge of these findings as well as an understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical features of these disorders will allow one to suggest a diagnosis, allowing further evaluation and treatment to proceed in a timely manner.