Computed tomographic evaluation of disorders affecting the alimentary tract.

The use of computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing disorders affecting the hollow viscera of the alimentary tract has received little attention. The authors reviewed CT scans of 43 patients on which lesions affecting the gastrointestinal tract were demonstrated. All cases were correlated with barium-enema examinations, surgical reports, or autopsy findings. CT can provide valuable information on the extraluminal extent of masses arising in the bowel, mesenteric masses, and can define and characterize extrinsic lesions. The authors's results suggest that CT is a useful adjunct in evaluating intramural or mesenteric lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.