Imaging studies such as water-soluble contrast enemas and computed tomography (CT) are often performed on the postoperative colon to exclude complications such as anastomotic leaks, strictures, fistulas, and abscesses. This chapter discusses the postoperative anatomy and major complications that occur…
Colonic Obstruction Mechanical large bowel obstruction is four to five times less common than small bowel obstruction and differs significantly in terms of cause ( Table 46.1 ), pathophysiology, therapy, and prognosis. Colon obstruction is most often the result of…
The polyposis syndromes are rare conditions characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) polyposis resulting from specific genetic mutations. A thorough knowledge of the clinical and radiographic manifestations of these syndromes and their complications is required to provide optimal care for affected individuals…
This chapter discusses a variety of benign and malignant tumors of the colon as separate entities. Although these tumors are associated with a wide range of clinical and radiologic manifestations, they may have typical features on imaging studies that suggest…
Epidemiology Colon cancer is a major public health problem in the United States. As a cause of cancer mortality, it ranks third to prostate and lung cancer in men and breast and lung cancer in women. The American Cancer Society…
Infectious and inflammatory disorders of the colon are common and do not require imaging in most cases. In some disorders, imaging has a role in establishing the diagnosis, assessing the severity of the process, monitoring the course of the disease,…
The term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two forms of chronic, idiopathic intestinal inflammation, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Although many other inflammatory diseases affect the gut, most are distinguished by a specific identifiable causative agent or process or by…
The vermiform appendix is the smallest segment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the least relevant to its function, yet diseases of the appendix are among the most common surgical emergencies in the Western world. Anatomy The appendix arises anywhere…
Colonic diverticula are acquired herniations of the mucosa and of portions of the submucosa through the muscularis propria. Diverticular disease of the colon represents a continuum from an initial, prediverticular phase of marked muscular thickening of the colon wall (myochosis)…
Computed tomography colonography (CTC) is a low-dose, cross-sectional imaging examination optimized for the detection of colorectal polyps and masses. As a result of advanced computer three-dimensional (3D) post-processing, a popular misperception is one of an imaging analogue to optical colonoscopy…