Computed tomographic findings in bowel infarction.

Findings on computed tomography (CT) were considered diagnostic or highly suggestive in seven cases of bowel infarction. Important findings were portal or mesenteric venous gas, intramural gas, focal thickening of bowel wall, focal or diffusely dilated fluid-filled bowel, and clot in the superior mesenteric artery. Only one patient had unequivocal extraluminal gas on initial abdominal radiographs, although others had equivocal findings or later developed obvious extraluminal gas. Because CT may detect extraluminal gas and mesenteric arterial occlusion not apparent on plain films, and because CT is increasingly used early in the evaluation of abdominal pain, it can play an important role in the diagnosis and management of bowel infarction.