Stamati Giovanni, Ierardi Anna Maria, Minordi Laura Maria, Cina Alessandro, Meduri Agostino, Vecchioli Amorino
Istituto di Radiologia, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Policlinico "A. Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
Rays. 2005 Jan-Mar;30(1):71-6.
The case of a 73-year-old male patient come to the Emergency Department for epigastric pain, vomiting and blocked bowel movement is presented. Plain abdominal X-ray performed on emergency showed marked small bowel distention, and air-fluid levels suggestive of intestinal obstruction. CT was indicated to establish its precise site and cause. The presence of a gallstone was evidenced: gallstone ileus was diagnosed. Interestingly enough, at surgery the gallstone was not found; most likely it was expelled spontaneuously during the time elapsed between CT and surgery. Based on imaging findings and a review of the literature it was concluded that the study patient had a rare association of intestinal volvulus and gallstone ileus.
