Stercoral colitis: diagnostic value of CT findings

Diagn Interv Radiol. 2017 Jan-Feb;23(1):5-9. doi: 10.5152/dir.2016.16002.

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the CT findings of stercoral colitis (SC).

Methods: Forty-one patients diagnosed with SC between February 2006 and April 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Rectosigmoid colon was the most frequently involved segment (100%, n=41). CT findings can be summarized as follows: dilatation >6 cm and wall thickening >3 mm of the affected colon segment (100%, n=41), pericolonic fat stranding (100%, n=41), mucosal discontinuity (14.6 %, n=6), presence of free air (14.6%, n=6), free fluid (9.7%, n=4), and pericolonic abscess (2.4%, n=1). The sign most related with mortality was the length of the affected colon segment >40 cm.

Conclusion: CT has an important role in SC, since life-threatening complications can be easily revealed by this imaging modality. Increased length of involved colon segment (>40 cm) is more likely to be associated with mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Colitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Colitis / etiology
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colon / abnormalities
  • Colon / diagnostic imaging
  • Fecal Impaction / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Young Adult