Cecal pneumatosis in patients with obstructive colon cancer: correlation of CT findings with bowel viability.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to reassess CT findings of cecal pneumatosis in patients with acute large-bowel obstruction due to colon cancer to determine whether this condition indicates transmural necrosis versus viable bowel and also whether other CT findings could be used to identify patients with transmural necrosis.

CONCLUSION

CT findings of cecal pneumatosis do not always indicate transmural infarction in patients with acute large-bowel obstruction due to colon cancer. Cecal pneumatosis may be related to viable bowel when it displays a bubblelike pattern or when it is not associated with other findings of ischemia.