Radiologic investigation of acute inflammatory and infectious bowel disease.

Definitive diagnosis of infectious or idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease ultimately rests on histologic and bacteriologic documentation. Nevertheless, radiologic studies play an important role in the evaluation and management of patients with acute enterocolitis. Plain abdominal films can give a gross estimate of disease extent in the colon and detect complications, such as perforation or toxic megacolon. Double-contrast barium enema allows visualization of the mucosal pattern and the overall configuration of the bowel, which are important for determining the extent and severity of disease and its most likely cause. Cross-sectional imaging depicts the mural and mesenteric involvement as well as intraperitoneal complications of inflammatory bowel disease, thus providing a critically important perspective that complements the information afforded by endoscopic and conventional radiographic techniques.